Sen. Schumer says bipartisan gun legislation should be ready soon; McConnell agrees to framework

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said bipartisan compromise gun legislation spurred by the Texas school massacre should be ready for a vote in the “coming days.”

After talks with top Democratic and Republican negotiators, Schumer said on Tuesday that both sides are “hopeful” the text of a bill to strengthen background checks and encourage passage of red flag laws should be good to go soon.

“For sure, the bipartisan framework is far from perfect,” Schumer said. “But if passed it will unquestionably save lives.”

“It would be the most significant action on guns that the Senate has taken in nearly three decades,” he added.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-ky.) announced his support for the recently announced bipartisan gun agreement, as well.

“If this framework becomes the actual piece of legislation, it’s a step forward, a step forward on a bipartisan basis,” McConnell told reporters. He said the proposal “further demonstrates to the American people” that lawmakers can work together on significant issues “to make progress for the country.”

McConnell alluded that support for the framework might even help the GOP in November and that Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) presented Republican polling data at a closed-door senators’ lunch saying support among gun owners for the agreement’s provisions is “off the charts, overwhelming.”

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) admitted that the bill was a far cry from what Democrats believe is necessary to stem the bloodshed from mass shootings in American schools, workplaces and streets.

But he called it a “breakthrough” to win GOP support for any gun restrictions and said the measures could “save thousands of lives.”

“Even if we never pass another anti-gun violence bill, (this) is going to make an enormous difference on the rates of violence in this country,” Murphy said.

His remarks were echoed by Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who said his Brooklyn constituents would welcome even small steps toward lowering gun violence.

“The people I represent back at home are heartened by the apparent breakthrough in doing something to address the gun violence crisis,” Jeffries said.

The Senate’s so-called framework on guns has the stated support of at least 10 Republicans, which should allow it to pass over certain conservative filibuster efforts.

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“After Uvalde and Buffalo, perhaps this time could be different. To many senators on both sides, this debate certainly feels different,” Schumer said.

Congress’ last major gun measure was an assault weapons ban that took effect in 1994 but expired 10 years later.

With News Wire Services