WASHINGTON – A bipartisan group of senators said Sunday it has an agreement in principle on gun control legislation, though the lawmakers did not provide specific and detailed legislation.
“Families are scared, and it is our duty to come together and get something done that will help restore their sense of safety and security in their communities,” a group of 20 senators said in a statement.
Ten of the signers were Republicans – the number needed to break a GOP filibuster on the package.
The group said its plan “increases needed mental health resources, improves school safety and support for students, and helps ensure dangerous criminals and those who are adjudicated as mentally ill can’t purchase weapons.”
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Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called the agreement “a good first step,” and added that “we must move swiftly to advance this legislation because if a single life can be saved it is worth the effort.”
The proposal is vastly more limited than changes pushed by President Joe Biden to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, add universal background checks and raise the minimum age to buy guns to 21 years old. Still, he urged immediate passage in both chambers.
“Obviously, it does not do everything that I think is needed,” Biden said, “but it reflects important steps in the right direction, and would be the most significant gun safety legislation to pass Congress in decades.”
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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., issued a tepid statement praising the work of negotiators, but not specifically endorsing their proposal.
“I continue to hope their discussions yield a bipartisan product that makes significant headway on key issues like mental health and school safety, respects the Second Amendment, earns broad support in the Senate, and makes a difference for our country,” he said.
The senators who signed the statement included the four who led the negotiations: Chris Murphy, D-Conn.; John Cornyn, R-Texas; Thom Tillis, R-N.C.; and Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz. The others are: Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.; Roy Blunt, R-Mo.; Cory Booker, D- N.J.; Richard Burr, R-N.C.; Bill Cassidy, R-La.; Susan Collins, R-Maine; Chris Coons, D-Del.; Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.; Martin Heinrich, D-N.M.; Mark Kelly, D-Ariz.; Angus King, I-Maine; Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.; Rob Portman, R-Ohio; Mitt Romney, R-Utah; Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and Pat Toomey, R-Pa.
The proposal includes:
- Support for state crisis intervention
- Investment in children and family mental health services
- Protections for victims of domestic violence
- Funding for school-based mental health and supportive services
- Funding for school safety resources
- Clarification of definition of federally licensed firearms dealer
- Telehealth investments
- Penalties for straw purchasing
The plan also calls for an “enhanced review process” for young gun buyers.
“For buyers under 21 years of age, requires an investigative period to review juvenile and mental health records, including checks with state databases and local law enforcement,” the statement said.
Contributing: Joey Garrison
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