By Aaron Miller
President Biden faces a real challenge in his much need push for gun reforms after the second mass shooting in under a week, pilling pressure on him to address a cancer that has dogged America for years.
The passing of gun reforms that substantially reduce the likelihood of guns getting into the hands of the wrong people will be as significant an achievement as the any notable achievement to take place under the presidency of any American leader.
Biden recently said he supported returning to the “talking filibuster” in which senators need to physically be on the floor talking in order to block legislation.
Biden is pushing for executive action on gun control, on a matter which must be successfully implemented, if America is to consider itself great in any form or shape.
Repetition of disaster without preventative measures to prevent a recurrence would be idiocy, quite plainly.
Vice president Kamala Harris has added her voice to the appeal for much needed change, as she urged congress to act.
It comes after eight people in the Atlanta area and 10 people in Boulder, Colo were killed in the most recent shootings, all within a space of one week.
Kamala Harris urges Congress to act on gun control
The signs of meaningful progress are far from encouraging if the reaction in congress is anything to go by.
“Every time there is a shooting, we play this ridiculous theater where this committee gets together and proposes a bunch of laws that would do nothing to stop these murders,” senator Ted Cruz said at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. He accused Democrats of an attempt to take away guns from law-abiding citizens.
The polarization of views in congress sadly offers little hope of a major change in gun law reforms in America unless these law makers can smell the coffee and institute some remarkable laws to lessen the gamble every inhabitant of America faces daily just by breathing air in the U.S.
The pessimism for change is as troubling as the maniacs who have wreaked harvoc on Americans for decades and destroyed the lives of families and well wishers of the several victims over the years,
A senior Obama administration official expressed skepticism that the recent shootings would influence the debate.
“After El Paso and Dayton, it’s very clear that nothing is going to sway congressional Republicans on gun control,” the former official said, referring to the 2019 mass shootings that occurred less than a day apart.
“A once-in-a-century pandemic cannot be the only thing that slows mass shootings in this country,” Obama, who failed to convince Congress to move forward on significant reforms after the Newtown, Conn., elementary school shooting in 2012, said in a statement.
“We shouldn’t have to choose between one type of tragedy and another. It’s time for leaders everywhere to listen to the American people when they say enough is enough — because this is a normal we can no longer afford,” he said.
Closing Of Loopholes
Biden in remarks from the White House urged Congress to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines and to close loopholes in background checks for firearms.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (Ill.), the No. 2 Senate Democrat, called for a “moment of action” in addition to a moment of silence to address the “epidemic” of U.S. gun violence.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) blasting Democratic calls to eliminate the filibuster in comments from the floor.
He condemned the shootings and said he was open to discussion on gun reform but acknowledged “deep-seated philosophical differences” between Democrats and Republicans on how to address gun violence.
During a previously scheduled Senate hearing on reducing gun violence Tuesday, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) accused Democrats of “ridiculous theater” as they proposed universal background checks and other measures.
“Every time there is a shooting, we play this ridiculous theater where this committee gets together and proposes a bunch of laws that would do nothing to stop these murders,” Cruz said at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. He accused Democrats of an attempt to take away guns from law-abiding citizens.
Opposing Gun Reforms: U.S senator Ted Cruz
Given the stark differences on display, a senior Obama administration official expressed skepticism that the recent shootings would influence the debate.
“After El Paso and Dayton, it’s very clear that nothing is going to sway congressional Republicans on gun control,” the former official said, referring to the 2019 mass shootings that occurred less than a day apart.
When asked during a later trip to Columbus, Ohio, whether he has the political capital to move forward gun measures, Biden answered that he hoped so and crossed his fingers.
“I don’t know. I haven’t done any counting yet,” Biden replied.
A federal ban on assault weapons in 1994 when Biden was chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee was ineffective in stopping national tragedies of mass shooting, because it did not go far enough.
A 2019 House bill that attracted 216 co-sponsors didn’t get a floor vote even though Democrats had a majority in the lower chamber.
Further Reforms
Biden’s call for further reforms included a demand that the Senate “immediately pass” two bills approved by the House earlier this year that would expand background checks on gun sales.
“This is not and should not be a partisan issue; this is an American issue. It will save lives, American lives, and we have to act,” Biden said, noting the House bills had received some Republican support.
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) has promised quick action on the legislation, which would strengthen background checks and close the so-called Charleston loophole by extending the time federal investigators have to perform background checks from three days to 10 days.
Eight GOP lawmakers voted for the background check legislation that would require unlicensed or private sellers to conduct a check before they transfer a firearm. Two House Republicans backed the bill to close the Charleston loophole
National Rifle Association.
Democrats also think they have a chance to take advantage of a weakened National Rifle Association. The pro-gun advocacy group filed for bankruptcy and announced in January that it will reincorporate in Texas and leave New York. It’s also facing a civil suit from New York Attorney General Letitia James (D).
Hurdles
Democrats face hurdles passing any gun control measure in the 50-50 Senate, where they need at least 10 Republican votes to end the debate on legislation provided every Democrat votes in favor of the bills, unless a gun control measure is attached to a bill passed through budget reconciliation.
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) told reporters Tuesday that he does not support the House-passed legislation expanding background checks, suggesting it should include a larger exemption for gun transfers between individuals who know one another.
“I come from a gun culture. And I’m a law-abiding gun owner, would do the right thing, you have to assume we will do the right thing,” Manchin said.
The White House is signaling that it will look for ways to act through executive action.
“We are considering a range of levers, including working through legislation, including executive actions to address, obviously, not just gun safety measures but violence in communities, so that has been under discussion and will continue to be under discussion,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters aboard Air Force One following Biden’s remarks.