Nine days after Senate negotiators agreed on a framework proposal – and 29 years after the last time Congress passed a major firearms measure – Senator Chris Murphy, D-Conn., Told reporters that the final deal for the details of the proposal was ready. Legislation being drafted by lawmakers will intensify background checks on newer firearms buyers, require more vendors to conduct background checks, and increase sanctions on arms dealers. It will also disburse money to states and communities to improve school safety and mental health initiatives. “I think we have reached an agreement,” Murphy said. “And we’re just making dots I and crossing Ts right now. “I think we are in good shape.” Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, the leading Republican negotiator, spoke at the Senate podium a few minutes later, saying he, Murphy, and two other other Senate negotiators had “reached an agreement.” The senators did not initially say how they had resolved the two major obstacles that delayed the agreement on the legislative language of the bill. One was how to subject abusive romantic partners to the existing ban on violent spouses acquiring weapons. The other provided federal assistance to states that have “red flag” laws that facilitate the temporary removal of firearms from individuals considered dangerous or to states that have intervention programs in violence. If passed, the measure of the election year will mark a modest but characteristic change in the policy of an issue that has defied compromise since Bill Clinton took office. After 10 black shoppers were killed last month in Buffalo, New York and 19 children and two teachers died days later in Uvalde, Texas, Democrats and some Republicans decided that this time, the measured steps were preferable to the usual congressional response to such atrocities – deadlock. What is uncertain is whether the Senate agreement and its vote will signal the beginning of slow but gradual congressional action to reduce gun violence or the high mark on the issue. As far as Buffalo and Uvalde, a mass murder parade – in places like elementary and high schools, places of worship, military installations, bars and the Las Vegas Strip – only led to a dead end in Washington. Republicans have refused to include proposals in Tuesday’s compromise between President Joe Biden and Democrats to ban guns or raise the minimum age for buying them, ban large-capacity magazines or require a history check for almost all arms sales. It seemed likely that a majority of Republicans – especially in Parliament – would be against the law. Underscoring the backlash from Democratic lawmakers backing the pact by the most conservative voters, lawmakers slammed Cornin at his state’s Republican convention on Saturday as he described the measure. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, DN.Y., said his goal was for Parliament to debate and vote on the bill this week. The momentum in Congress for gun legislation has a history of declining rapidly following mass shootings. Lawmakers are scheduled to begin a two-week break on July 4 at the end of this week. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in the Ark said he supported the negotiators announced last weekend. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, from California, also said she supported the effort and looked confident she would vote for it as soon as possible.
