Push for gun reform continues in U.S. Senate; House to hear more emotional testimonies

By Michael Ranger

Posted June 8, 2022 6:49 am.

Last Updated June 8, 2022 7:00 am.

More testimony is expected on Wednesday as the push for new gun control legislation continues south of the border in the wake of a string of deadly mass shootings.

A bipartisan gun safety deal is still alive in the U.S. Senate but it remains unclear what new measures Republicans are willing to accept — there needs to be 60 votes to advance any legislation.

One of the questions among those pushing for tougher measures is why anyone would need to own a semi-automatic weapon like an AR-15 rifle. It was that type of gun that was used in the recent massacres in Uvalde and Buffalo — both shooters were 18-years-old and purchased the firearms legally.

It appears most Republicans will not even consider an all-out ban of semi-automatic rifles or agree to raising the legal age of buying one of the guns. However, the top Republican in the senate, Mitch McConnell, has reportedly said privately that he would be open to some stricter measures, but he has yet to give that indication publicly.

“It won’t surprise you to know that I’m not going to try to negotiate the deal with all of you guys,” said McConnell, speaking to reporters. “We’re waiting to see if we can get an outcome that directly relates to the problem that brought this issue to the fore.”

“I hope we have one sooner rather than later.”

Republicans currently represent half of the 100 members of the U.S. senate, meaning at least 10 would need to support any deal if each of the 48 Democrat and two independent senators are on board.

“The challenge you have is there are 20 million (assault weapons) in the country already,” says John Thune, Republican Sen. from South Dakota. “They are a sporting rifle and it’s something that a lot of people use for purposes of going out and target shooting.”

On Wednesday, more emotional testimony is expected on Capitol Hill from the families on mass shooting victims reflecting on the growing numbers of lives lost from gun violence. An 11-year-old survivor of the Uvalde massacre, Miah Cerrillo, is expected to be among those addressing lawmakers.

Actor Matthew McConaughey calls for gun legislation at White House

Actor Matthew McConaughey made an appearance at the White House Tuesday to call on Congress to pass gun control legislation in honor of the children and teachers killed in the shooting rampage at an elementary school in his hometown of Uvalde, Texas.

He specifically called on Congress to bolster background checks for gun purchases and raise the minimum age to purchase an AR-15-style rifle to 21 from 18.

“We want secure and safe schools and we want gun laws that won’t make it so easy for the bad guys to get the damn guns,” McConaughey said.

McConaughey has also met with key lawmakers this week, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee that handles gun legislation, Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, and the panel’s ranking Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa.

“We need to invest in mental healthcare. We need safer schools. We need to restrain sensationalized media coverage. We need to restore our family values. We need to restore our American values and we need responsible gun ownership,” McConaughey said.

With files from The Associated Press and CityNews reporter Jaime Pulfer