WASHINGTON (TIP): The US Senate voted Thursday to debate the nation’s most ambitious gun safety legislation in almost two decades, after a bipartisan group of lawmakers agreed on expanding background checks.With relatives of the 20 children killed in the Newtown massacre watching from the visitors’ galleries, years of Senate refusal to address gun laws in the United States, and Republican obstruction, was swept aside.
Some 16 Republicans joined the Democrats, setting up crucial votes next week on amendments to a bill that would tighten checks for firearms buyers, stiffen penalties for gun trafficking and boost school safety measures. “The hard work starts now,” top Democrat Harry Reid told his Senate colleagues moments after the 68-31 vote. White House spokesman Jay Carney said the “bipartisan progress” was encouraging, but stressed Thursday’s vote was just the “first stage in an effort to get sensible, common-sense legislation.” President Barack Obama, who has leaned heavily on Congress to adopt his proposals after the tragedy in Connecticut in December, called families of the Sandy Hook school shooting victims to congratulate them on the vote result and pledge his continued support in the fight.
Jillian Soto, sister of slain Newtown firstgrade teacher Victoria Soto and who spent days pressing lawmakers on Capitol Hill to enact tighter gun laws, said she had hoped for a tougher background check amendment, but “I’m happy that we are getting somewhere.” The key ingredient in the complex gun control recipe is the compromise on background checks reached by Democrat Joe Manchin and Republican Pat Toomey.
The deal waters down the universal background check system sought by Obama, which was opposed by scores of lawmakers including some Democrats who hail from conservative-leaning, pro-gun states.
But it strengthens existing legislation, which only requires background checks for firearm purchases at licensed gun dealers, to require checks for sales at gun shows and on the Internet. It would still allow gun sales between relatives and friends to continue without such safeguards, however.
The big question now is whether the legislation, in parts or as a whole, can pass the Senate and head to the House, where an even tougher vote is expected. Republican Mark Kirk of Illinois helped craft the compromise and is likely on board. And another moderate in the party, Susan Collins, has expressed her initial support, although she said she wants to study the bill’s language