‘Take the issue off the table’: Why Mitch McConnell green-lit a GOP deal on gun violence.
In signing on to legislation that aims to prevent mentally unwell people from acquiring firearms, Mitch McConnell followed a strikingly similar path that he used to support the Biden administration’s infrastructure package last summer.
He deputized a trusted ally to negotiate the details and he expressed optimism without full commitment during the lion’s share of the process. But once he got to ‘yes’ along with about 30% of his caucus, he was eager to demonstrate the deadlocked Senate could still be productive, if only on incremental changes.
It’s a classic McConnell template: Measured, targeted and calculated.
“[John] Cornyn and McConnell are both realists and I think they went into this eyes open, with no illusions about how popular this might be with the base,” said Liam Donovan, a former Republican Senate campaign operative turned Washington lobbyist. “They’ve made a good faith effort to address the problem in common sense ways that voters broadly support.”
The 80-page bill, which won initial Senate approval late Tuesday – including the votes of 14 Republicans – allows authorities to take 10 business days to review gun purchases by those under the age of 21. It includes boyfriends and girlfriends in the clause that prevents partners guilty of misdemeanor assault from legally buying a gun.
It requires more gun sellers to register as licensed dealers and stiffens penalties for skirting those requirements.
And it pours hundreds of millions of dollars into state and local mental health intervention programs in schools and beyond, designed to identify warning signs before a trigger gets pulled.
On Wednesday, McConnell call it it a “product I’m proud to support,” saying it will combat mass murder without touching law-abiding Americans’ right to bear arms.
But some Republicans balked at money that would go towards so-called “red flag” laws meant to alert law enforcement of people who demonstrate dangerous behavior.
“You can’t call yourself a conservative and pass legislation that funds erosion of due process, which is what these red flag laws do,” said Noah Wall, executive director of Freedomworks America, a conservative group. “It puts the cart before the horse and presumes guilt and you have to go prove innocence.”
Wall said he was disappointed but not surprised McConnell granted the bill his backing.
In the initial aftermath of the massacre inside a Uvalde, Texas elementary school, McConnell wouldn’t even utter the word “guns” when referring to the national epidemic of shootings. He maintained that mental illness and school safety were what needed to be addressed.
In fact, in the first 20 pages of the draft bill, handguns are hardly mentioned in the text. The initial section focuses on the expansion of mental health services for children, including the implementation of periodic screening of minors and using Medicaid and telehealth to increase access to those services.
McConnell’s ultimate statement of support underlined this emphasis, while taking a potshot at his foes on the other side.
“For years, the far left falsely claimed that Congress could only address the terrible issue of mass murders by trampling on law-abiding Americans’ constitutional rights. This bill proves that false,” he said. “Our colleagues have put together a commonsense package of popular steps that will help make these horrifying incidents less likely while fully upholding the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.”
For hardline, uncompromising conservatives and gun enthusiasts alike, McConnell capitulated to political pressure.
“Fourteen Senate Republicans proved again…that party labels don’t count for anything where our gun rights are concerned,” said Aaron Dorr, director of the American Firearms Association.
“AFA members will fight against this gun control bill until the very end. And if it passes, our members will be ruthless at holding vulnerable Democrats and (Republican-In-Name-Only) Republicans accountable in upcoming elections.
Sen. Rand Paul was one of the 34 Republican senators to vote no.
The “Bipartisan Safer Communities Act” still needs a final vote in the Senate before it moves to the House, where Democrats hold a five-seat House majority.
Like the Senate, most House Republicans are expected to oppose the deal, including in the commonwealth, where Rep. Thomas Massie has been most vocal in arguing it violates constitutional rights.
“Call it what it is, gun control, specifically an infringement on the rights protected by the 2nd and 4th amendments,” Massie tweeted Wednesday.
Rep. Andy Barr, who represents Lexington, is still evaluating the legislation, according to his spokesman, Alex Bellizzi. Rep. James Comer, wasn’t immediately available on Wednesday to offer an opinion, according to his spokesman, Austin Hacker.
But for those legislators seeking new ways to bolster safety, the hardest hurdle has been cleared. And it likely would not have happened without McConnell’s cover.
Donovan surmised that even though the loudest voices on the right are angered, the GOP leader sees a political upside.
He now has another significant vote in his pocket that he can hold up when Democrats complain the filibuster needs to be broken or amended to accomplish a legislative goal.
“Base blowback is a sunk cost having pursued a deal,” said Donovan. “You have to balance the prospect of a divisive vote with the fact that this is their last best chance to take the issue off the table for the foreseeable future, and on relatively favorable terms.”
This story was originally published June 22, 2022 at 2:08 PM with the headline "‘Take the issue off the table’: Why Mitch McConnell green-lit a GOP deal on gun violence.."
