The Senate voted to pass the bill just over an hour after negotiators presented its text, giving lawmakers some time to digest the details.
The bill had a strong impetus after a group of 10 Republican senators led by Sen. John Cornyn (Texas), who has an A-plus rating from the NRA, signed a bipartisan framework of principles with 10 Democrats earlier this month.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) Gave another impetus to the effort last week when he announced that he supported the bipartisan framework and would also support legislation based on its core points.
Every Senate Democrat was expected to support the bill, although it did not include more sweeping reforms that many of them support, such as gun bans and large-capacity magazines and universal history checks.
The vote shakes up the debate policy on gun violence in Congress, as many of the Republicans who voted to pass the bill have A or A-plus NRA ratings.
Here are the 14 Republicans who voted yes:
Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas)
Cornyn is a senior member of the Senate Justice Committee that negotiated with Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) Last year about legislation extending background checks to commercial sellers, but without success.
Cornyn noted one of the few notable achievements in armed violence legislation in recent years when he wrote and assisted in passing the Fix NICS Act in 2018. The legislation required federal agencies to draw up plans to upload all relevant information in the National System of Immediate Controls of Criminal History.
McConnell chose Cornyn to lead the Republican debate shortly after a bipartisan Senate group met in Murphy’s basement to begin talks in hopes of finding a way to respond to the Buffalo and Ovalde shootings.
Cornyn has an A-plus rating from the NRA, and McConnell praised him for knowing more about gun safety policy than anyone else at the GOP Senate.
Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)
McConnell showed interest in passing a bill to respond to the Buffalo and Ovalde violence when he asked Cornyn to lead negotiations with the Democrats.
A Republican senator close to McConnell said the leader’s decision to hand over the job to Cornyn showed that he wanted a positive outcome.
McConnell later said the same thing when he spoke to reporters this month.
“I am optimistic that we could reach a bipartisan solution that is directly related to the events of this horrific massacre,” he said in late May.
McConnell announced last week that he would support the gun security bill if it was in line with the bipartisan framework ratified by 10 Republicans and 10 Democratic senators June 12.
McConnell also has an A-plus rating from the NRA.
Senator Thom Tillis (RN.C.)
Tillis was the key negotiator with Cornyn and Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.).
He was initially considered skeptical of gun safety legislation when he expressed concerns about red flag legislation early in the debate, but once Cornyn and McConnell brought it into the talks, it proved to be a valuable bargaining chip.
Tillis is considered a good political barometer of the Republican Party, and his support for the framework probably encouraged other Republicans to sign.
It has an A NRA rating.
Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine)
Collins is one of the main negotiators in the Senate and attended the first meeting at Murphy’s hideout in late May. Collins has been particularly active in talks to combat the illicit purchase of straw and the trafficking of firearms.
In April last year, it introduced the law “Stop the Illicit Trafficking in Firearms”.
Collins is rated B by the NRA.
Senator Lindsey Graham (RS.C.)
Graham drafted legislation with Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) In 2018 to amend the federal penal code to authorize and institute proceedings for a family member or law enforcement officer to seek a removal order from a firearm. someone who was judged to be in danger of harming himself or others.
Graham attended the first meeting of the bipartisan group at Murphy’s den and said he supported the legislation to motivate states to handle red flag laws if they so choose.
Graham has an A rating from the NRA.
Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.)
Cassidy worked on the mental health component of the gun safety bill and took part in the first bipartisan debate in Murphy’s office over the phone.
Cassidy is building a reputation for himself as a bipartisan negotiator. He signed a statement last year approving a $ 1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure framework that paved the way for the final completion of the deal.
He is not going to be re-elected until 2026.
Cassidy has an A rating from the NRA.
Senator Roy Blunt (R-Mo.)
Blunt is chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee and a close ally of McConnell’s.
He is not as moderate as other Republicans who signed the bipartisan framework on gun safety principles earlier this month.
McConnell’s desire to achieve a result on gun safety legislation may have helped Blunt vote yes. Withdraws from Congress at the end of the year.
Blunt has an A rating from the NRA.
Senator Richard Burr (RN.C.)
Burr is another McConnell loyalist who is retiring from Congress later this year.
The prominent role played by his colleague from Tillis’s homeland in the talks gave Beer more motivation to vote in favor of continuing the bill.
He also signed the bipartisan framework of principles released on June 12th.
It has an A-plus rating from the NRA.
Late. Mitt Romney (R-Utah)
Romney has emerged, along with Collins and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), as the three most likely Republican hovering votes in this Congress.
He has twice voted for former President Trump to be convicted of embezzlement charges.
Romney maintained his involvement in the rather low-profile talks, but signed the bipartisan framework in June.
He played a key role in negotiating last year’s bipartisan infrastructure bill, and earlier this bill reached a compromise with Senate Majority Leader Charles Sumer (DN.Y.) for a $ 10 billion $ 100 billion aid package.
He is one of the largest bipartisan negotiators in the Senate and has an A rating from the NRA.
Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio)
Portman was one of 10 Republican senators who approved the June framework along with 10 Democrats.
He is an adviser to McConnell’s leadership team and will retire from Congress later this year.
Portman was one of the main negotiators on last year’s bipartisan infrastructure bill. He recently emerged as the top Senate champion in support of Ukraine’s fight against the Russian invasion.
It has an A rating from the NRA.
Senator Shelley Moore Understood (RW.Va.)
Capito was one of four Republicans abruptly voted in favor of the gun safety bill Tuesday night.
Capito did not approve the June framework and when asked about it said it would have to review the details of the legislative text before giving an opinion on whether it would support or oppose the bill.
Capito is also an adviser to McConnell’s leadership team, and her colleague from home, Senator Joe Manchin (DW.Va.), was one of the first participants in the bipartisan debate on violence in Uvalde.
Capito has an A rating from the NRA.
Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa)
Ernst did not approve the bipartisan framework when it was first unveiled this month and also said it wanted to review the legislative text before making a decision.
Ernst is a member of McConnell’s leadership team as Vice President of the Senate Republican Conference.
It was seen as a possible yes vote, as it signaled its willingness to consider raising the minimum age for buying an AR-15 rifle to 21.
It has an A rating from the NRA.
Of. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska)
Murkowski was seen as a mysterious vote to consider the gun safety bill.
Murkowski has dismissed questions from reporters about various gun safety proposals in recent weeks, saying she has focused on other issues.
It played a leading role in negotiating last year ‘s $ 1 trillion infrastructure bill and is not afraid to break with the majority of its congress for big votes.
He famously opposed Supreme Court Justice Brett Cavanaugh’s confirmation in 2018 and voted to oust Trump’s incitement to revolt last year.
Murkowski will be re-elected in November, but she has built a political base for herself in Alaska that includes many moderate Republicans, independents and Democrats.
It has an A rating from the NRA.
Representative Todd Young (R-Ind.)
Young was one of the biggest surprises on Tuesday after he voted to pass legislation.
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He is a former member of McConnell’s elected leadership team as chairman of the National Republican Senate in 2019 and 2020.
Young has a realistic streak and knows that pointing to independent voters and women in the suburbs, two key electoral blocs, that Republicans know how to govern is a good policy in general elections.
Young is a former Marine Corps intelligence officer with an A-plus rating from the NRA.