Coalition Behind Arms Bill Reveals Sharp Republican Split In Senate
Tuesday’s Senate vote to push for a close bipartisan agreement to tighten federal gun laws was, on one level, a political miracle, with 14 Republicans joining Democrats to defy the National Rifle Association and strongmen. Conservative critics – in an election year. Elsewhere, however, Republicans strongly opposed a bill that offered only comparatively gradual changes to existing gun laws after a series of mass shootings demonstrated the resilience of hardline views on gun rights and gave the body the upper hand....