Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is scrambling to quickly “force” a Senate vote on radical gun control measures, according to a new report.
The New York Times is reporting that Senate Majority Leader Schumer took action “within hours” of the Robb Elementary School shooting.
Schumer reportedly made an adjustment to the Senate schedule and will “force” a gun control vote.
The vote will be focused on expanding background checks to cover sales at gun shows and “gun buyers on the internet,” according to the NYT.
However, reports indicate the alleged Robb Elementary School attacker purchased both his rifles from an FFL at a gun store.
The firearms were reportedly purchased legally and the store already requires a background check.
For example, the Houston Chronicle observed the Robb Elementary School shooting suspect “legally purchased two rifles in the days following his 18th birthday, authorities said.”
The Los Angeles Times legal affairs columnist Harry Litman pointed out, “[The] shooter bought the two assault rifles from a FFL on his recent 18th birthday.”
Shooter bought the two assault rifles from a FFL on his recent 18th birthday.
— Harry Litman (@harrylitman) May 24, 2022
Despite this, Schumer is pushing for a vote to expand background checks.
The NYT notes, “Within hours of the shooting in Uvalde, Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the majority leader, moved to clear the way to force votes in coming days on legislation that would strengthen background checks for gun purchasers, pushing to revive measures with broad appeal that Republicans have blocked in the past.”
The Hill observes that Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) concurred with the push for a gun control vote.
“We need to vote,” Blumenthal said.
“We need to hold every member of the Senate accountable.
“Every one of us should be put on the record.”
Democrats unsuccessfully pushed an expansion of background checks in response to the December 14, 2012, attack on Sandy Hook Elementary School as well.
That push was undercut by public knowledge that such an expansion would not have prevented the Sandy Hook attack, as the guns used in the heinous were stolen rather than purchased.
