Currents News Staff
On Capitol Hill, cautious optimism is taking place as bipartisan negotiations on gun safety reform continue in the Senate.
“I think that we can put together a package that will get more than 10 republican votes,” said Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy.
Lawmakers have been facing intense pressure to act in the wake of several recent mass shootings in the U.S.
At least 10 Senate Republicans need to vote with Democrats to clear the 60-vote threshold to break a filibuster – and pass legislation.
“Look, I think that is worth seriously considering providing some extra scrutiny for young purchasers, but prohibitions are, that would be very tough,” said Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey.
While a deal is far from complete, sources say lawmakers are eyeing the 18 to 21 age group in terms of age limits – or looking at juvenile criminal records – to buy semiautomatic weapons.
“I think we need to have background checks to make sure criminals and folks who are court adjudicated mentally ill terrorists,” said Montana Sen. Jon Tester. “I believe they lost their second amendment rights.”
This week, some parents who lost their children in Uvalde – testified before the House and urged Congress to act.
“Somewhere out there is a mom, who is listening to our testimony, thinking I can’t even imagine their pain, not knowing that our reality will one day be hers unless we act now,” said Kimberly Rubio who lost her daughter Lexi in the Uvalde shooting.
Senate democrats are holding out hope that their Republican colleagues will join them in taking action.