Republican and Democratic senators agreed Sunday on several measures to restrict access to guns in the United States, a rare compromise, but less than the reforms Joe Biden demanded after the new assassinations.
Launched after the Uvalde massacre, which killed 21 people, including 19 children at a Texas primary school, at the end of May, the parliamentarians ’initiative provides some restrictions on access to weapons for person considered dangerous, the strengthening of the school. safety and funding for mental health programs.
The President of the United States immediately greeted important advanceseven if they don’t include all of that need for save lives.
However, this is the text most important gun control vote to be passed in Congress in decadeshe pleaded with a press release.
The presence of ten Republican senators among the signatories to the press release announcing this compromise suggests that such a bill has a real chance of passing the Senate if all 50 elected Democrats are in favor of it.
A qualified majority of 60 votes to 100 senators is required for its adoption, which has so far blocked any major progress toward better gun regulation, due to opposition from conservatives.
” With the support of elected officials from both parties, there is no reason for the delay, and no reason not to act quickly in the Senate and House. “
The president promises to announce the text immediately if it is adopted.
The Uvalde massacre and what happened a few days before Buffalo, in the northeast of the country, mobilized America and prompted several parliamentary initiatives.
A group of senators, led by Democrat Chris Murphy along with Republican John Cornyn, have been quietly working in recent days to find the agreement announced Sunday.
20 senators, 10 Republicans and 10 Democrats agreed a common sense bipartisan proposal to protect America’s children, keep our schools safe and reduce the risk of violence nationwideaccording to the joint press release.
The agreement outlines the federal government’s support for state-by-state laws that would eliminate weapons they possess in the hands of those deemed dangerous.
It provides funding of various psychological support and assistance programs and the strengthening of security in schools, particularly through the training of teachers.
These senators also want to strengthen criminal and psychological background checks for gun buyers between the ages of 18 and 21, as well as better control over the illegal sale of guns.
” Our project saves lives, while protecting the constitutional rights of law -abiding Americans. “
Also in its press release, the group lists proposals, but has not yet revealed the actual text of the law.
The deal of the day demonstrates the value of dialogue and teamwork, greeted the leader of Republican senators Mitch McConnell. In a deeply divided America, an agreement between elected Republicans and Democrats in Congress is rare, especially on this usually very divisive subject.
The compromise, however, is far from what many Americans are demanding, with tens of thousands of them taking to the streets of many cities across the country on Saturday, including the capital Washington, to demand strong reforms. from Congress.
Joe Biden publicly expressed his support for the protests, listing measures he would like to see passed but missed in the agreement on Sunday: bans on assault rifles and high -capacity magazines, background checks for all gun buyers – and not just those under the age of 21 – an obligation for individuals to keep their guns locked.
The House of Representatives voted Wednesday a different text that includes a ban on the sale of semi-automatic rifles to those under 21 and large-capacity magazines, but it has almost no chance of passing the Senate.
France Media Agency
Source: Radio-Canada
