Bipartisan Senate Group Reaches Deal In Gun Control Discussions — & They Believe It Could Pass

Over the weeks since the mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, several legislators have indicated that they think the legislative mood has shifted enough to finally make some progress, however small it may be. Now at last there are signs that these changes are coming.

According to Axios, a bipartisan group of Senators, including John Cornyn (R-TX) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) along with Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and Chris Murphy (D-CT), have been discussing gun control measures that could actually pass the Senate. It’s a high bar — with the political divide essentially 50-50, and 60 votes needed to advance any legislation, no proposal has a real chance without at least ten Republicans on board.

At the moment, the group is still drafting the legislative text, but they’ve at least agreed on principles, and while they say it will fall short of what gun control activists hope for, it could be the most significant action on gun safety in decades — if it can pass.

Some members of the group have released statements. Sinema says the plan addresses mental health resources and school safety, as well as addressing the ability of criminals to purchase firearms, and still respects the Second Amendment rights Americans so fiercely champion.

Bipartisan Group of 20 Senators Announce Agreement pic.twitter.com/YkSaBYU85g

— Kyrsten Sinema (@SenatorSinema) June 12, 2022

According to National Journal columnist Josh Kraushaar, ten Republicans have already signaled their support for the bill — a good sign for its chances of passing.

Of note: 10 Republican senators signed onto the bipartisan Senate gun/mental health bill, meaning it has a very good chance of passing the Senate.

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The signatories are: Cornyn (TX), Collins (ME), Tillis (NC), Blunt (MO), Burr (NC), Cassidy (LA), Graham (SC), Portman (OH) 1/X

— Josh Kraushaar (@HotlineJosh) June 12, 2022

NBC is reporting that the deal would support “red flag laws,” establish more rigorous background checks for gun buyers between the ages of 18 and 21, add new protections addressing ‘straw purchases.’ It would also close what is known as the “boyfriend loophole” — a gap in legislation that exempts a perpetrator from rules denying weapons to domestic abusers, if said abuser is not married to the victim and does not live with or have a child with the victim.