A bipartisan group of senators who are hoping to find common ground on gun laws will meet remotely this week to hold discussions about policies in the wake of a series of tragic mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo, New York.
Because of the Memorial Day recess period, the United States Senate is not in session this week, forcing lawmakers to meet remotely. Republican Sen. John Cornyn said on Monday that the group of senators will be meeting on Tuesday via Zoom "to try to see if we can agree on a basic framework about how we go forward."
Discussing Gun Reform
The Texas Republican has been tapped by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to engage in bipartisan discussions on gun reform. On Monday, Cornyn said that many issues on gun reform should be talked about at the state level. However, he said he does believe that "there are some things we need to do, and I think we can do, at the national level."
The GOP member said that he previously mentioned access to mental health treatment and diagnosis was absolutely critical. He added that COVID-19 had isolated many young people during "an important period of social development," as per CNN.
Cornyn noted that background checks have to be a national conversation as well, noting other possible "limitations under federal law of what sort of firearms you can buy and own and maintain if you have a criminal or mental health record." The Republican added that they will be considering all of these during the discussions.
The talks come after an outcry from a series of deadly mass shootings in the United States, particularly in Buffalo and Uvalde. However, it remains unclear if the bipartisan effort will result in anything given the highly polarized political environment of U.S. politics, even more so regarding gun laws.
According to CBS News, Cornyn will meet with Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy with an aide to the latter confirming that he "is participating in tomorrow's meeting and will be holding meetings throughout the week."
Series of Mass Shootings
The offices of the two lawmakers did not specify if other members will join the bipartisan attempt at considering areas of agreement on gun reforms. On the other hand, the White House declined an invitation to have a member of the Biden administration join a show on Sunday with CBS News. They noted that they were leaving it up to Congress to act, moderator and senior foreign affairs correspondent Margaret Brenna said.
United States President Joe Biden said on Monday that it was hard to say what one element Republicans might support regarding gun reform. He noted that he has not been negotiating with the GOP yet. On Sunday, he grieved with family members of the victims of the Uvalde, Texas, shooting.
Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beo O'Rourke confronted state leaders last week during a news conference, telling Gov. Greg Abbott that he was "doing nothing." He also said that the mass shooting in Uvalde was "totally predictable." On the other hand, the party's candidate for lieutenant governor, Mike Collier, blamed Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick for loosening gun laws in the state instead of tightening them after previous mass shootings, the Texas Tribune reported.
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