Democrats name for extra gun measures after July Fourth parade capturing

WASHINGTON — Lower than two weeks after Congress handed landmark laws to curb gun violence, Democratic lawmakers reacted in horror and anger after a gunman opened hearth at a Fourth of July parade within the Chicago suburbs, killing six and injuring dozens extra.

Many Democrats demanded that Congress enact extra aggressive gun management measures however stopped in need of calling for particular coverage modifications. A number of mentioned they wished to see a ban on semi-automatic weapons or elevating the age to buy them.

But it’s unlikely Republicans are prepared to return to the negotiating desk so quickly after passing the primary significant gun reforms in three a long time — particularly throughout an election yr when the GOP wants its conservative base to end up on the polls.

“I feel yesterday’s capturing is one other instance of what the issue is,” Senate Republican Chief Mitch McConnell instructed reporters Tuesday after a speech in Paducah, Ky. “The issue is psychological well being and these younger males who gave the impression to be impressed to commit these atrocities.”

Democrats agreed to incorporate hundreds of thousands in funding for psychological well being sources of their newest bipartisan package deal however insist the issue is weapons.

Mass shootings received’t cease “till extra members of Congress broaden their definition of freedom to incorporate freedom from bloodbath by semi-automatic weapon,” Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., instructed NBC Information on Tuesday.

Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., agreed that Congress must take additional motion to finish mass shootings. 

“As households come collectively to have fun America, they’re gunned down within the scourge of gun violence plaguing it. This can be a tragedy,” Markey mentioned in a tweet. “The Bipartisan Gun Legislation was a primary step, however Congress should do extra to cease this lethal epidemic and save lives.”

“Colleges. Malls. Places of work. Church buildings. Mosques. Synagogues. Nightclubs. Concert events. Grocery shops. Film theaters. Fourth of July parades,” tweeted Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va. “The gun foyer and its Republican puppets have robbed People of our sense of security in nearly each place conceivable.”

Illinois lawmakers have been making an attempt to deal with rampant gun violence that has plagued the town of Chicago for many years. However they mentioned they have been shocked by the character of this specific mass capturing: Authorities consider the suspected gunman was perched on high of a constructing as he opened hearth on paradegoers and individuals who had gathered for Highland Park’s annual Fourth of July festivities.The sniper fired greater than 70 rounds, police mentioned. Aa particular person of curiosity, 21-year-old Robert E. Crimo III, was taken into custody in close by Lake Forest, Illinoi, in response to officialss. The weapon used within the capturing is believed to be a “high-powered rifle,” just like an AR-15, that was bought legally

Police mentioned they’re reviewing movies that Crimo posted on his social media accounts, together with some depicting mass homicide.

Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Sick., who represents Highland Park, mentioned he and his marketing campaign staff have been on the point of march within the parade when the capturing started. He mentioned nobody on his staff was injured.

“My condolences to the household and family members; my prayers for the injured and for my neighborhood; and my dedication to do every little thing I can to make our youngsters, our cities, our nation safer. Sufficient is sufficient!”

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Sick., known as the capturing “horrific,” whereas Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Sick., described it as “completely terrifying” for the households who skilled it.

“Final month, Congress proved that bipartisan compromises on gun security are doable. At this time proved that we are able to’t cease there,” Duckworth mentioned in a press release on Monday. “We’ve to do extra to maintain our communities protected. We’ve to cross extra commonsense reforms that huge majorities of People are crying out for — that 6 Illinoisans can now not cry out for. I received’t let their recollections be forgotten.”

Simply final month, Democrats and Republicans got here collectively to cross sweeping gun laws in response to mass shootings at a grocery retailer in Buffalo, New York, and an elementary college in Uvalde, Texas.

The invoice, which President Joe Biden signed into legislation, gives federal grants to incentivize states to cross “purple flag” legal guidelines; enhances background checks to incorporate juvenile information for gun patrons beneath age 21; affords extra funding for psychological well being packages and faculty safety; and closes the “boyfriend loophole” by preserving weapons out of the fingers of single courting companions who’ve been convicted of abuse

Addressing the Highland Park capturing, McConnell mentioned the brand new legislation “focused the issue. In that specific occasion, it was college security and psychological well being.”

“We’ve received to determine some approach to establish these troubled younger males and it’s very difficult,” McConnell mentioned. “As a result of after each certainly one of these shootings there are individuals who say ‘oh you realize, I believed he was fairly unusual. I want I notified anyone about it.’”

As a result of it’s early within the Highland Park investigation, it’s unclear if the capturing may have been prevented by sure provisions within the Bipartisan Gun Legislation. The 4 lawmakers who negotiated the deal — Sens. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., John Cornyn, R-Texas, Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., and Thom Tillis, R-N.C. — have been comparatively quiet within the wake of the Highland Park capturing.

Murphy characterised his invoice as step one in broader gun reforms however didn’t lay out specifics in a video posted on Twitter on Monday.

“I’m assured that the invoice we handed per week and a half in the past goes to save lots of lives; it should make a distinction. However it’s solely the start,” Murphy mentioned.

“We’ve now damaged the again of the gun foyer. … At this time is a reminder that we nonetheless have an extended street to journey.”

Some Democratic candidates known as on congressional lawmakers to do extra to cease mass shootings. Senate hopeful John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, the present lieutenant governor, mentioned Washington must “tackle the NRA by shutting down and prosecuting gun sellers whose weapons routinely wind up at crime scenes.”

He additionally demanded that Senate Democrats scrap the filibuster and instantly cross common background checks for all gun gross sales and a ban on military-grade assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

“We can’t and should not turn into numb to this ever-increasing gun violence,” Fetterman mentioned.