Republicans in the Senate are looking to bring a gun control bill to a vote, although it has opposition from the National Rifle Association and other conservative groups, according to
The Hill.
Maine Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican, launched the bill to block those on terror watch lists from buying guns. The bill has support from both Republicans and Democrats.
Taking no action on gun control could be an issue for Republicans who appear to be vulnerable in upcoming elections. House Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is keeping that in mind, despite the NRA's objections to the bill.
"He will not be dictated to," one lawmaker said about McConnell being pressured by the NRA.
Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy, a Democrat, appeared hopeful about the bill, saying, "I think you're seeing in real time the vice grip of the NRA loosening in this place. This is a watershed moment whether this gets to the finish line or not."
Democrat Sen. Chuck Schumer believes the bill is not extensive enough, saying the bill does not give the Justice Department authority to deny gun sales to almost 900,000 foreigners in a federal terror database.
"There [are] some potentially serious problems, fixable problems, but problems," Schumer said.
Sponsors said around 10 Republicans in the Senate were onboard for the bill, including co-sponsors Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, Pennsylvania's Pat Toomey and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.
"I hope we get a strong bipartisan showing," Graham said, reports The Hill.
According to
The Washington Post, Senate lawmakers voted down four gun-control bills.
After that vote, Sen. Murphy pointed to the failure as proof of the NRA's "vice-like grip," according to
New York Magazine. Sen. Graham spoke directly to the NRA about the bill when he announced that he would be a co-sponsor: "To my friends at the NRA, I understand your concern about denying somebody the right to buy a gun…
But every right has boundaries on it. The likelihood of someone being on this list and buying a gun to use it in a terrorist act to me is far greater than the likelihood of an innocent person being on this list. We can fix the problem with the innocent person. Once the gun's bought, you don't fix that."
Sen. Collins' legislation would allow the attorney general to block gun sales to an individual on the no-fly list or on a "selectee list," which requires more airport screening. Collins said the two lists affect around 109,000 people, most of them foreigners.
The NRA and conservative advocate groups Heritage Action for America and Gun Owners of America are against the legislation, according to The Hill.
"Sen. Collins and others are focusing their efforts on unconstitutional proposals that would not have prevented the Orlando terrorist attack. The American people want Congress to stop playing politics and pass policies that will keep them safe from terrorists," NRA Institute for Legislative Action director Chris W. Cox said, reports The Hill.
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.