They are very invested in doing nothing. The plans they have made are more important than the country.
By Catie Edmondson
Senate Republicans (click here) on Thursday blocked action on a bill aimed at strengthening the federal government’s efforts to combat domestic terrorism, rejecting a measure put forward by Democrats in the wake of a racist massacre in which a gunman motivated by white supremacist ideology killed 10 Black people in a Buffalo supermarket.
Democratic leaders had framed the procedural vote as the best vehicle for quick action on gun violence prevention measures in the wake of the elementary school shooting this week in Uvalde, Texas, where an 18-year-old gunman killed 19 children and two teachers.
If Republicans allowed it to move forward, said Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the majority leader, he would open the bill up to proposed changes from both parties to address gun violence.
“It’s a chance to have a larger debate and consider amendments for gun safety legislation in general, not just for those motivated by racism — as vital as it is to do that,” Mr. Schumer said, imploring Republicans to allow the debate to open. “I know that many members on the other side hold views that are different than the views on this side of the aisle. So let us move on this bill. Let us proceed.”
But Republicans voted against even considering the measure, arguing that the bill was unnecessary and defined extremism in a way that could be too broadly construed by law enforcement. The vote was 47-47, leaving Democrats short of the 60 needed to move forward on the bill....
Nothing is going to happen on gun control either. It is Sandy Hook all over again and nothing ever changes. The GOP is corrupted to the core and it shows with these efforts and the abortion legislation. Nothing ever is resolved to help the people. The Democrats always have to have controlling majorities otherwise nothing gets done.
By Carl Hulse
The calculation behind Republicans’ steadfast opposition to any new gun regulations — even in the face of the kind of unthinkable massacre that occurred Tuesday at an elementary school in Texas — is a fairly simple one for Senator Kevin Cramer of North Dakota.
Asked Wednesday what the reaction would be from voters back home if he were to support any significant form of gun control, the first-term Republican had a straightforward answer: “Most would probably throw me out of office,” he said.
His response helps explain why Republicans have resisted proposals such as the one for universal background checks for gun buyers, despite remarkably broad support from the public for such plans — support that can reach up to 90 percent nationwide in some cases.
The reality is that that 90 percent figure probably includes some Republicans who are open to new laws, but would not clamor for them or punish a lawmaker for failing to back them, and the 10 percent opposed reflect the sentiments of the G.O.P. base, which decides primary contests and is zealous in its devotion to gun rights....
