Democrats never let a tragedy go to waste.
This time, their political play may work.
That’s because every Democrat Senator and at least 10 Republicans want to do this to your God-given rights.
The art of a bad deal
The U.S. House of Representatives, under Democrat control, has passed sweeping and unconstitutional gun-grabbing legislation.
However, that bill has no chance of passing a deadlocked upper chamber.
So, Senate leaders, Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell delegated members of their respective parties to come to an agreement on “compromise” legislation that would still chip away at Americans’ God-given Second Amendment rights, but in a way that might garner bipartisan support.
Democrats Chris Murphy of Connecticut and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona met with Republicans John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina to work out a deal both sides could live with to appease the “Do Something” crowd.
Now, along with Senators Cornyn and Tillis, eight other Republicans have signed on to the gun-grabbing deal.
Those RINOs include: Roy Blunt of Missouri, Richard Burr of North Carolina, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Rob Portman of Ohio, Mitt Romney of Utah and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.
Interestingly, out of those 10 GOP Senators, four are retiring from politics this year, and at least one other, Romney, is rumored to be considering not seeking re-election in 2024.
Also of interest, the 10 Republican votes – along with every Senate Democrat – is the exact number of votes needed to get the bill past a filibuster attempt.
And just to put it over the top, Senate Minority Leader McConnell of Kentucky has also indicated he may vote in favor of the supposed gun-control compromise.
Breaking down the “bipartisan” gun control compromise
The Devil is always in the details, here’s what’s inside the bill:
As opposed to creating a federal “red flag” law, the bill provides extra funding to states to if they pass state-level “red flag” laws.
So-called “red flag” laws enable courts to take away your guns based on advice from friends, family, coworkers, exes, nosy neighbors, counselors, you name it.
The legislation specifically mentions banning guns from anyone accused of abusing a person they’re dating.
Of course, the main problem with so-called “red flag” laws is the burden of proof.
What is to stop a scorned ex or a neighbor you’re disputing, or a Social Justice Snowflake relative, from falsely flagging you and costing you your Second Amendment rights?
The compromise bill has no provision for penalties for abusing the flagging process.
Even actor Matthew McConaughey’s suggested “common sense” gun compromise emphasized those types of consequences for false accusers.
Giving President Joe Biden another item from his wish list that would not do anything to prevent mass murders – the bill adds strict new guidelines and background checks for anyone under the age of 21 attempting to purchase a long gun.
Individuals under the age of 21 are already barred from buying handguns.
According to the Rockefeller Institute of Government, the average age of mass shooters is over 33 years old.
The bill also cracks down on family members purchasing a gun on behalf of another family member.
Finally, the compromise earmarks billions of dollars for mental health and school safety programs.
That funding would include investments in telehealth access for students and violence prevention programs in schools.
It’s the only part of this compromise that sounds reasonable on the surface, but again, gun owners are concerned it could quickly be turned against conservatives by declaring anyone who holds conservative or pro-gun positions to be mentally ill.
Democrats will keep complaining
While the compromise bill continues to chip away at Americans’ God-given Second Amendment rights, it’s not everything President Biden and his party want in the form of gun control.
The President has recently advocated for upping the age to purchase any gun to 21, passing a national gun registry, banning high-capacity magazines, and making bulletproof vests illegal.
Again, none of those things would actually do anything to prevent future mass shootings.
Hardening schools, as Republicans have proposed – which would include allowing trained teachers to carry firearms in the classroom, and adding more armed security in schools – is also nowhere to be found in the compromise, despite being far more effective in dissuading gun violence.
Bad policy, bad messaging, bad politics
The fact that so many Republicans are lining up to sign the dotted line on this gun grab is puzzling.
Some political analysts believe it’s an attempt to take mass shootings off the table as a 2022 Midterm issue.
However, in doing so, the GOP is giving President Biden and vulnerable Democrats something they can campaign on as being a “big victory.”
Furthermore, by caving to “Do Something” demands, these RINOs are forfeiting the right to argue against any link between mass shootings and gun control.
The areas of the United States with the most gun crimes also happen to have the strictest gun control laws – sorry, can’t use that argument anymore.
And it’s an unconstitutional infringement of rights that leaves every American less safe.
But hey, those 10 – maybe 11, depending on McConnell – Republicans can now say they’ve, “Done Something.”
Even if it won’t help.
