What The Politico’s John Breshanan and Jake Sherman seem to be referring to is the Manchin-Toomey background checks bill
The tough gun-control bill that President Barack Obama wants now has little, if any, chance of passing this Congress – it’s struggling in the Senate and facing outright rejection in the House.
Vice President Joe Biden worked the phones Monday to try to salvage a bipartisan bill in the Senate but has come up short. Personal appeals from parents of Newtown victims and former Rep. Gabby Giffords haven’t worked either.
And even if Senate negotiators get to 60 votes, the House is certain to rewrite the bill – or discard it altogether.
The thing about Manchin-Toomey, as so many, including myself, have noted, is that it would not have stopped Adam Lanza. Nor Hasan Nidal. Nor James Holmes. Nor Jared Lee Loughner. All had guns illegally (Loughner lied on his form about marijuana usage). Tougher gun control certainly hasn’t worked in Chicago.
A defeat would mean that in just five months after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings, the best chance for new gun controls in 20 years is slipping away.
What they mean is restricting law abiding citizens their Constitutional Right to keep and bear arms. And say there’s lots of blame to go around for stopping this bill (note: I’m not against it, it won’t do much, and I see no problem, including Constitutionally, with requiring background checks for all firearm purchases. Though, the sections about mental illness needs to be very carefully re-written so as to not infringe on people’s rights): The NRA, red state Dems, reps in rural areas). And
It also, once again, displays the competing interests in the Capitol: A Senate attuned to national politics, and a House consumed with local, gerrymandered, constituencies.
Um, is that not what Representatives are supposed to be concerned with? The American citizens in their districts? Should Senators not be concerned with the opinions of the citizens of their states? Looks more like the Politico is pushing Collectivism and authoritarianism.
If the Democrat led Senate was serious they would be writing legislation that goes after criminals instead of making it harder for law abiding citizens to purchase a firearm.
The Sever Gun Ownership Impactment Bill has indeed died a glorious death.
If the Repubs had any, ANY, spine, they would put up a bill NOW to make CCW permits accepted across all 50 states.
Enact an affirmation that gun ownership is a natural god-given right.