Biden last week called for a ban on semi-automatic, offensive weapons, as well as multi-barreled cartridges, or at least to raise the minimum age for buying these weapons from 18 to 21 years.
The Democrats in the Senate stated that have been encouraged by talks with Republicans regarding the promoting gun ownership legislation, but warned that any compromise will not cover all the stepswhich, according to them, are required to reduce the violence of weapons.
“Every day we come closer to an agreement and we do not move away”said the senator Chris Murphy from Connecticut, who works with the Republican senator John Cornyn from Texas, for a possible agreement.
The leader of the Republican minority in the Senate Mitch McConnell stated that he hopes that the two sides will find common groundafter a wave of massive gun attacks in the cities of Buffalo (New York), Ovalde (Texas), Tulsa (Oklahoma) and other areas.
“We hope that in the end we will have a result that will make a difference”McConnell said during a press conference.
THE Chuck Sumer, The leader of the majority of Democrats in the Senate elected in New York, said that he will give time for the negotiations, at least until the end of the week, in order to reach an agreement.
The talks have raised hopes for a rare cross-party compromise agreement in Congresson arms-related issues, as the two legislatures have failed to take legislative action following similar mass gun attacks over the past decade.
Most Americans support the strengthening of gun ownership legislation, according to opinion polls. Several relatives of those killed in the recent attacks have visited Washington, as well as celebrities urging action.
“It’s not for Republicans. It is not for the Democrats. It’s for people. It is for human life “said Kimberly Salter, whose husband, Aaron Salter Jr., was among the 10 victims of the Buffalo supermarket attack.
The Democratic president Joe Biden supports the effort, said White House spokeswoman Karin Jean-Pierre. “He is optimistic about what he sees”she said during a press briefing.
However, any agreement that emerges may not include all of the arms embargoes that both Biden and other Democrats say are needed to reduce gun violence, which has killed more than 45,000 Americans. last year.
Biden last week called for the ban on semi-automatic, offensive weapons, but also with multi-barrel cartridges or at least to increase the minimum age for the purchase of these weapons from 18 to 21 years.
The perpetrators of the attacks in the cities of Buffalo and Ovalde were 18 years old and used semi-automatic weapons.
The Democratic-majority House of Representatives is moving to vote on some proposals, which are unlikely to be voted on by the Senate, where there is an equal share of seats between the two parties, as several Republicans oppose strengthening the control. .
“Obviously, an agreement with the Republicans will not be close to the full list of things I consider necessary to control this epidemic.”said Murphy. “But Americans are looking for progress” to this issue, he added.
Instead of the original proposals, Murphy and Cornyn are considering more modest proposals regarding the encouragement of states to adopt “precautionary” laws in order to not be able to take up arms, those people who are considered to be able to threaten public safety or themselves, upgrading school security, strengthening mental health services, but also activating a stricter framework, so that weapons are not far away from those who should not carry weapons.
