Senate Seeks To Find Common Ground On Gun Control After Uvalde Mass Shooting

After the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, legislators are attempting to find a compromise amid a steep divide over gun control in the U.S., promising to provide bipartisan legislation to prevent future shootings.

The calls for compromise come nearly after a decade of GOP stonewalling on gun reform legislation. The shootings in Uvalde and Buffalo renewed rifts and ignited strong emotions on the current state of the Second Amendment.

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut) made an emotional appeal on the Senate floor, expressing frustration over the lack of action.

“There are 14 kids dead in an elementary school in Texas right now,” Murphy lamented. “What are we doing? Why are we here? What are we doing?”

Last week, Democrats attempted to pass a domestic terrorism bill to curb gun violence but failed to pass, ending with a 47-47 vote. 

“It will give the government the tools to monitor, find, & arrest evil actors before they have a chance to inflict violence,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) on Twitter on the day of the vote.

Republicans argued against the bill, citing existing laws meant to stop racist shootings.

A bipartisan group of 10 senators – led by senator Murphy – is currently set to negotiate over expanding existing red flag and background check laws. The group plans to propose new legislation set to be voted on after the Senate’s recess.