Staff Reports
Senate Republicans are once again highlighting their unwavering dedication to the Second Amendment by blocking a potential ban on bump stocks after the Supreme Court quashed a Trump-era prohibition on the firearm accessory. The recent legislative tussle emerged when Senate Democrats, in a failed attempt to reimpose the ban, tried to sneak it through via a legislative shortcut.
Most Senate Republicans, led by Sen. Pete Ricketts from Nebraska, didn’t fall for the Democrats’ procedural trickery and effectively prevented the measure from gaining unanimous consent. This action perfectly encapsulates the GOP’s enduring resistance to pointless gun restrictions. Although former President Trump initially implemented the ban following a tragic mass shooting in Las Vegas, Senate Republicans – apart from a handful of centrist outliers – appear to have little interest in further curbing gun rights.
On one side, Sen. Mitt Romney expressed some affinity for reimplementing the ban, albeit with a warning against any “poison pills” the Democrats might tack on to turn away Republican support. Sen. Susan Collins, a notorious outlier within the party, lamented that the bill didn’t travel through regular order and is the co-author of the bipartisan BUMP Act, which has yet to gain necessary traction.
“I’ve been involved in some negotiations regarding firearms, and I’d be happy to listen to what people propose.”
Sen @JohnCornynSome Republicans are showing openess to restoring a bump stock ban through new bipartisan law. https://t.co/DNTUOMyLdu
— HOUmanitarian ™ (@HOUmanitarian) June 19, 2024
The crux of the Republicans’ opposition is fortified by the Supreme Court’s recent decision. The high court’s conservative majority ruled that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives had overstepped its boundaries with the 2019 bump stock ban, as it lacked proper congressional backing. This brilliant stroke of judicial clarity aligns with the GOP’s perspective that regulatory agencies lack the right to create sweeping rules without legislative approval.
Of course, the usual suspects among the Republicans, including Sens. Thom Tillis, John Cornyn, and Shelley Moore Capito, displayed a tepid openness to discussing the issue. Still, they’d need at least nine Republican votes, which seems as elusive as unicorns at a rodeo.
Democrats, led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, continued their disingenuous act of surprise and dismay. Schumer appeared baffled that the Supreme Court, under a conservative majority, could rule in favor of gun rights – conveniently forgetting that, unlike his “summer of show votes,” this ruling is about adherence to constitutional limits. Meanwhile, Republicans like Sen. Joni Ernst pragmatically affirmed that bump stocks do not convert firearms into illegal machines, reflecting basic firearm mechanics.
Not one to miss a beat, Sen. J.D. Vance shot down the bump stock debate as another non-issue pushed by the Democrats. He astutely pointed out that Chuck Schumer’s focus on “fake problems” highlights the broader issue with current Democrat strategies, which often dodge the real problems plaguing the nation.
In the end, it’s clear that Senate Republicans, armed with constitutional fidelity and an eye for political theatrics, will continue to outmaneuver Democrats in their quest to safeguard American gun rights.
