Washington – Bipartisan negotiations in the Senate have focused on relatively narrow arms measures: funding for mental health, strengthened background checks, Red Flag laws and safety in schools.
Negotiations began after two mass shootings in which the defendants were about 18-years-old who legally bought a gun. But raising the minimum age required to purchase AR-15-style weapons appears to be a distant blow because of the Republican resistance.
“Two district courts have found this to be unconstitutional,” Senator John Cornin (Texas) told HuffPost. “I don’t know what the Supreme Court will do. But I think we’re more interested in targeting people with mental health problems and a criminal record. “
Just three years ago, Congress raised the age limit for buying tobacco from 18 to 21, and doing so seems to be one of the most obvious responses to the massive hunting of young people.
Peyton Gendron, 18, was charged with killing 10 people at a market on May 14 in Buffalo, New York. Salvador Ramos, 18, is accused of killing 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school on May 24. Uvalde, Texas.
Wald resident actor Matthew McConaughey who recently flirted with the Texas governor’s office supported the idea this week before meeting with senators on Capitol Hill.
Federal law restricts the sale of firearms by authorized dealers to buyers over 21 years old, while allowing 18 -year -olds to purchase rifles and shotguns. But Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn), who led the negotiations for the Democrats, acknowledged that raising the age of getting a firearm would be difficult.
“We’re working to explore what could get us more than 60 votes,” Murphy told HuffPost of the level of support needed to overcome the Republican filibuster. “Obviously, I support aging. “I’m not sure it will give us the numbers we need.”
Members of the bipartisan group hope to find an agreement to be presented to their parties over the weekend, although these deadlines may be missed.
Cornyn, the GOP’s chief negotiator, briefed his colleagues on the status of the talks at a private group lunch on Tuesday. Although the increase in the age required to purchase rifles was on her list, Cornyn did not indicate her advantage over an idea as few participants.
Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) Also declined to comment on the age limit when asked by a reporter after lunch on Tuesday.
“We’re waiting to see if we can get a result that is directly related to the problem that raises this problem again,” McConnell said. “Personally, I prefer to get results and we hope to have results soon.”
Republicans are more reluctant when it comes to supporting anything in a possible bipartisan arms reform package.
Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) Said he may be willing to raise the age of purchase, but he is concerned about legal challenges such as Florida law that requires gun buyers to be 21 years old.
“I’m not unequivocally ‘no’, but I need to know more if he’ll break it in court,” Rubio said.
Senator Steve Danes (R-Mont.) Said he was “not convinced that measures like this would actually reduce violence” when asked about the higher age for buying weapons.
“I am looking for ways to keep our children safe in school. So I think protecting our schools is the direction I’m heading. “With increasing gun control provisions, I don’t see our schools becoming safer,” he added.
When asked about the waiting period for firearms purchased by people under the age of 21, Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) Responded on a completely independent topic.
“I think what we need to do is implement the laws that we already have, among other things, into a justice system that uses the law the same way,” Johnson said. “Before we get a new one, let’s apply the laws we already have. Let’s start with Hunter Biden ”.
Some moderate GOP representatives, such as Susan Collins of Maine, Mitt Romney of Utah and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, have left the door open in support of such a proposal. At least seven other Republicans must join them to make it a reality.
Speaking at the White House on Tuesday, McConaughey called for new regulations as part of what he called a “new constitution.”Liability for weapons“The platform announced earlier this week.
“We want safe and secure schools and we want gun laws that don’t make it too easy for bad people to get guns,” McConaughey, the gun owner, said after recalling the offensive conversation. The families of those killed in Uvalde.
Matteo @ McConaugheyHer husband is indebted to Camilla, who is holding the conversion shoes of one of the victims of the state of Texas.
“It was the same green conversion on his feet that became the only clear evidence he could identify after the shot.” pic.twitter.com/uImP8xutsn
– CSPAN (@cspan) June 7, 2022
Source: Huffpost
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.