CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A group of U.S. senators will continue discussions on preventing mass shootings with the goal of drafting a legislative response to this week’s massacre at a Texas elementary school, in which a shooter killed 19 students and two teachers.
Ten Republicans and Democrats — including West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin — are seeking a bipartisan agreement that could make it through the split Senate. The work will continue as senators head home for state work periods.
“I’ve never been in this frame of mind. I can’t get my grandchildren out of my mind,” Manchin told reporters Thursday, referencing his three grandchildren who are elementary school age. “Something needs to be done, and I’m willing to look at whatever they bring forward that makes sense.”
The shooting at the Uvalde, Texas institution happened less than two weeks after a gunman killed 10 people at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York, and another person killed one man at a California church.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has given Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., until the Senate’s return in the week of June 6 to make progress with Republicans on a compromise. Schumer also promised that senators will vote on gun legislation when lawmakers return to Capitol Hill, even if negotiations fail to result in a bill.
“Our hope — even amidst our deep skepticism — is that during this week, Democrats and Republicans will, at long last, come to agree on something meaningful that will reduce gun violence in a real way in America,” Schumer said. “Senator Murphy and some of our colleagues believe that it is worth a chance, and we will give it that chance.”
During an exchange with journalists on Capitol Hill, Manchin suggested he was open to multiple proposals, including red-flag laws preventing some people from accessing firearms, legislation addressing mental health concerns, and an expansion of background checks. Manchin and Pennsylvania Republican Pat Toomey introduced a bill following the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut to increase background checks.
The current group would have to put forward a measure that could receive 60 votes in the 50-50 Senate. Manchin told reporters Wednesday he remains opposed to changing the filibuster, which requires the Senate to meet a 60-vote threshold to end debate on most legislation. The Manchin-Toomey proposal failed in April 2013 after only 54 senators voted to advance the bill.
“The bottom line is: If this doesn’t move you, nothing will,” he added about the shooting.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., on Thursday recognized Schumer for allowing lawmakers to reach a deal. She noted an interest among legislators to pass a bill.
“I think the fact that Senator Schumer, as the Democratic leader, did not just pull up a piece of legislation that had already been generated and put it out on the floor for a political statement tells you a lot,” she said.
“I think there’s a lot of ideas on the table. I think this is a pivotal moment. I do see it a bit differently this time as I did in the past, and I’m hopeful that we can reach some kind of consensus between the parties where we could move forward.”
Capito was serving in the House of Representatives when the Senate failed to pass the Manchin-Toomey proposal. According to Capito, she and Manchin have discussed the Manchin-Toomey plan, but she has doubts that Congress would pass the measure.
“I think there’s some questions there in terms of gun registry and other things that smack, I think, against the Second Amendment,” she added. “I don’t think that’s even a starting point, quite frankly. I think that’s just one of the ideas out there. We’ll just have to see what comes up through the [Senate] Judiciary Committee.”
Manchin said senators need to put a bill that would receive bipartisan support. He added it is “way past time” for Congress to address gun violence.
“I don’t know why you wouldn’t have 70 or 80 [votes],” he told reporters. “My goodness, it is about our children.”