Mitch McConnell Won’t Call Senate Back From Vacation To Work On Gun Control Legislation

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), has announced that the Senate will not reconvene early from their recess to work on gun control legislation.

He told a Kentucky radio station, “We’re going to have these bipartisan discussions and when we get back hopefully be able to come together and actually pass something.” 

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Senate Democrats have pushed McConnell to end their recess early so that the Senate can work on and vote on gun control legislation. Democrats have been demanding McConnell pass legislation, but last weekend’s mass shootings in Dayton, Ohio and El Paso,Texas have renewed their fight.  

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-California) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) have been pressuring McConnell and other Republicans to call the Senate back from their vacation.  

On Thursday, Pelosi wrote a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to call the Senate back under “Article II Section 3 of the Constitution.”

Earlier this year, the House passed legislation for background checks which was supported by eight Republicans. A similar bill in the Senate has 42 supporter – none of whom are Republicans.

McConnell wants senators to use the recess to speak with one another to see what kind of bill could get the 60 votes needed to pass.

McConnell see two pieces of legislation that could get votes on both sides. One being so called “Red Flag” laws and another for universal background checks, sponsored by Sens. Pat Toomey (R-Pennsylvania) and Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia). “Those are two items that for sure will be front and center as we see what we can come together on and pass,” McConnell said.

Article by Benjamin Wuersch