McConnell indicates Republican willingness to negotiate ‘directly related’ to Uvalde gun control restrictions.

In Washington, D.C.— McConnell said on Thursday that he wanted Republican senators to engage with Democratic counterparts on a legislative response to the school massacre in Uvalde, Texas that left 19 children and two instructors dead.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, met with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and McConnell pushed him to connect with important Democratic senators “in trying to get an outcome that’s directly related to the problem.  As a result, I have high hopes that we will find a solution that is based on the facts of this horrific slaughter and is therefore acceptable to both parties.”

In response to a question about possible areas of compromise, McConnell said he had asked Cornyn about red flag laws, background checks, and mental health issues “It’s time to meet with the Democrats who are interested in a bipartisan solution and come up with something tailored to this particular issue.

“A person’s firearms can be temporarily seized under the authority of a red flag law by law enforcement or a member of the person’s family. Sounds good but Mitch hasn’t been very popular among many people on this issue.

In the wake of mass shootings like Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, gun control supporters have seen Congress do nothing to address the issue.

To beat a filibuster and bring legislation to the Senate floor, Democrats need at least 60 votes from Republicans, and most of them have showed little interest in going against the gun lobby and restricting firearms availability.

If a deal is to be struck, McConnell must be involved.

When there were cries for gun control after past mass shootings, McConnell was important in thwarting earlier initiatives — weapons bans, background checks, red flags for mental health cases, ammunition magazine restrictions, and gun sale loopholes.

Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell says he hopes for an outcome that will really pass and become law rather than merely score points.

Several Democrats had expressed doubts the day before that Republicans would be willing to make significant progress on gun control, even in the wake of the horrifying event in Uvalde, Texas.

Known for his staunch opposition to tighter gun control and recipient of the National Rifle Association’s “Defender of Freedom” award, Kentucky’s seven-term senator has a lot of sway over how far his party will go in regards to gun legislation.

On Wednesday, Delaware Democrat Chris Coons claimed that “They (Republicans) are disturbed, upset, troubled but not willing to change where they are,” Delaware Democrat Chris Coons said Wednesday. “This is a bad day for anything even vaguely looking like hope or optimism around legislative process or progress.”

Senator John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota and McConnell’s deputy, though, backed the Republican leader’s views.

In a statement to reporters on Capitol Hill, he said, “I think we have to at least listen to each other and see if there’s a path forward where we might be able to find solutions that actually address the problem,” he told Capitol Hill reporters. “Too often, in these debates, at least my experience is people come up with lots of solutions to problems that either don’t exist or weren’t the cause.”

isthatporkstake; did the cow jump over the moon? The Republic party should be called the party of snails on this issue. They are constantly part of the unpopular opinion when it comes to what the majority of Americans really want. Then a few days go by and we’re all back to the will of the Republican party. “DOING NOTHING!” This may be different. At least the needle moved in the right direction. If it passes the Senate, which is still a tall order, it may get contagious and be a national thing. We gave McConnel and the Republicans a “Politics, Half Food Years Up! because it’s the start of something they have to finish. They’re lucky we gave them that. I have to admit, I have my doubts. I don’t however like what Sen John Thune said when he said “Too often, in these debates, at least my experience is people come up with lots of solutions to problems that either don’t exist or weren’t the cause.” yeah, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH get it done and stop acting like you want to run to the next exit. Use your moment to act like you want to get something done. BE A LEADER Sen Thune. It’s funny how long it takes truth to show up at the door. Maybe it will stay there this time and won’t be stranger than fiction.

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