Posted on 08/08/2019 3:56:48 PM PDT by yesthatjallen
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) predicted Thursday that gun background checks and so-called red flag laws would be "front and center" in the chamber's upcoming debate on gun-related legislation.
"The discussion is focusing on two things: One is these red flag warnings. There's also been some discussion about background checks," McConnell told Kentucky radio station WHAS during an interview on Thursday.
When the radio host noted that expanding background checks is supported by roughly 90 percent of Americans, McConnell acknowledged that "there's a lot of support for that."
"There's a bipartisan bill in the Senate, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, a Republican, and Joe Manchin of West Virginia, a Democrat, so those are two items that for sure will be front and center as we see what we can come together on and pass," McConnell added.
McConnell did not say whether he supports expanding background checks or that he would give a bill that expands background checks a vote as part of the Senate's upcoming debate.
The Senate has been a consistent roadblock to expanding background checks after a failed 2013 vote on the Manchin-Toomey proposal. Senators voted 54-46 on the proposal, falling short of the 60 vote threshold.
Five Democrats, none of whom are still in the Senate, voted against the bill. Two of the four Republicans who voted for it, Toomey and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), remain in the Senate.
McConnell predicted on Thursday that other issues, including questions about assault weapons, would also likely come up.
"That will probably be discussed as well. We had that ban for about a 10-year period," he said. "Background checks and red flags would probably lead the discussion, but a lot of other things will come up as well. What we can't do is fail to pass something."
McConnell is facing intense pressure from Democrats to bring the Senate back into session during the August recess to vote on a House-passed bill, which would go further than Manchin-Toomey by implementing universal background checks.
That bill has no chance of passing the Senate after clearing the House with the support of eight Republicans. The Senate's companion bill has 42 co-sponsors, none of whom are Republicans.
McConnell rejected calls on Thursday to bring the chamber back, saying senators and their staffs would use the five-week break to discuss what can pass the Senate.
"We're going to begin the discussions during the August break and when we get back hopefully we'll be in a position to agree on things on a bipartisan basis and go forward and make a law," he said.
Just like there has NEVER been private sales of pot, coke, heroin, oxy et al, there will never be private gun sales.
When the radio host noted that expanding background checks is supported by roughly 90 percent of Americans, McConnell acknowledged that “there’s a lot of support for that.”
Duh Phuck der iz....
FOAD
1. medical records
2. juvenile criminal records
I'd say the likelihood of the U.S. government passing any legislation that would actually be effective in stopping "mass shootings" is about zero.
I’m very concerned, as I’m sure fellow Freepers are as well, that any type of Red Flag bill will be the first, and fatal, step onto a very slippery slope.
I think you’ve got it.
Bump! Every one of those need to become law ASAP. The House is a real stumbling block.
No they wont. It single handedly nullifies the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th amendments. Its literally everything theyve ever hoped for.
The republicans are going to sell the left the rope that they will be hanged with.
Coward. Protesters in front of his house, and Twitter shuts down his account. He retaliates by giving them what they want.
Sickening.
Tie carrying gun laws to it.
Make the democrats choke on their own bill. We were all for background checks. The democrats rejected it.
The Senate Republicans are going to need hear from the people who put them in office. Same goes for the President. NO DEALS with our 2A rights. NONE!
Who do you think paid for them? McConnell has a huge re-election comingup. if the Turtle can't generate any sympathy for himself, then he's going down in the primaries.
I don't think that's an accident.
Yeah, it’s all blah blah blab ....
Today those private sales are legal and Constitutionally protected.
Universal background checks will make them criminal.
Notice that it is the same people wearing R jerseys that want to take your second amendment rights that also want to give the country to fraudulently documented foreigners.
Bush League Republicans MUST become extinct before the Republic does.
It seems the Redcoats are marching toward Lexington & Concord.
The dumb assed turtle didn't learn a d*mned thing from the leftist mugging apparently.
You pass gun control and I WILL sit out the election for 2020 and beyond.
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