On Sunday, Senate negotiators, including Sens. Chris Murphy (D-CT) and John Cornyn (R-TX), announced they had reached a framework for the yet-to-be-written legislation, which they said will include funding to facilitate implementing red flag laws, additional mental health and school safety resources, and closing the so-called boyfriend loophole, a rift in federal law barring spouses, but not dating partners, convicted of domestic abuse from gun ownership.
McConnell had previously revealed that he supported Cornyn’s involvement in the negotiations, but in comments to reporters Tuesday, he backed the deal Cornyn helped reach.
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“If the legislation ends up reflecting what the framework indicates, I’ll be supporting it,” McConnell said.
Ten Senate Republicans, including Cornyn but also Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Richard Burr (R-NC), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Rob Portman (R-OH), Mitt Romney (R-UT), and Pat Toomey (R-PA), said Sunday they support the framework. Their support would allow matching legislation to clear the Senate’s 60-vote filibuster threshold.
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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) indicated her readiness to enact the bill in the House, although it is much more narrow than gun violence legislation recently passed in that chamber. President Joe Biden also announced his support of the deal.
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Support from McConnell, the Senate’s top Republican, may lead to additional GOP support for the legislation in the Senate once it is written.
“Today, we are announcing a commonsense, bipartisan proposal to protect America’s children, keep our schools safe, and reduce the threat of violence across our country,” a group of 20 senators said in a press statement. “Families are scared, and it is our duty to come together and get something done that will help restore their sense of safety and security in their communities.” The group is currently made up of 10 Republicans and 10 Democrats.
The proposal does not include other provisions favored by Democrats and gun control advocates, including raising the minimum age for purchasing certain weapons from 18 to 21.
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“Today's announcement of a bipartisan gun-safety framework is a good first step to ending the persistent inaction to the gun violence epidemic that has plagued our country and terrorized our children for far too long,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in a press statement. “Once the text of this agreement is finalized, I will put this bill on the floor as soon as possible so that the Senate can act quickly to advance gun-safety legislation.”
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