Lawmakers are under intense pressure to act in the wake of recent mass shootings in the United States, and at least 10 Republicans must vote with Democrats to clear the 60-vote threshold to break the threshold and pass legislation. Murphy said he hopes the team can still reach an agreement on a package by the end of the week. “We are still moving towards that goal,” he said. “This is a complicated law and we want to make sure we do it right, not fast. So everyone is still at the table, no one is leaving and I’m still sure we have a way to get there.” He added: “Time is never our friend when we talk about bringing people to the table for something as difficult as gun laws and gun violence. I think this phenomenon is probably still going on, except for the fact that “Something different is happening out there in the American public. Both in the conservative states and in the more democratic states you have parents who are simply not going to accept anything as a choice this time.” Hours after Murphy said he hoped a deal would be reached this week, a top GOP negotiator poured cold water on those plans. Senator John Cornyn, the GOP chief negotiator for gun legislation, told CNN “no” and did not expect an arms deal this week. “But having said that we are making good progress,” he added. The Texas Republican said he was optimistic an agreement could be reached by the end of the month. He told reporters that it was “not surprising” that some Republicans had already pledged not to vote in favor of the Senate bipartisan arms package if an agreement was reached. “Some people will not want to touch this with a 10-foot pole because they are worried about its politics,” he said. “But I think this is a moment where I hope we can go beyond this personal political interest and do what we believe will save lives. For me, that is the ultimate goal.” Cornyn said the legislation would probably be ready “by the end of this term,” he told CNN, “over the next two weeks, I’m optimistic.” On what is being discussed, Murphy said federal red flag laws are not on the table in discussions with Republicans. These laws, which currently exist in 19 states, allow a judge to temporarily remove the weapons of someone who is considered a threat to himself or others. “I think there was some prolonged confusion,” Murphy said. “Previous proposals have proposed a federal law on the red flag. I never thought it was a good idea. I do not think you want law enforcement to have to go to federal courts to temporarily remove firearms from a dangerous to clear up some of the confusion around what we are proposing. “ He added: “We are talking about providing incentives for the state laws on the red flag and providing substantial funding for their implementation.” He also said that the group “resets” the age group 18-21 for the age limits or examines criminal records of minors for the purchase of semi-automatic weapons. “I think we are still trying to find a way to the 60 votes that includes a provision that recognizes that these 18 to 21 year olds tend to be gunmen and that they often have juvenile criminal records or previous mental health stories. “that should stop them from buying guns,” he said. He added: “So we are zeroing in on this population, trying to find a way to a bipartisan agreement. I would say I think there is Republican support for raising the age to 21. I do not know if there are 60 votes in favor of this proposal, so we’re exploring some other important and significant options. “ He remained optimistic about the passage of the Senate Armed Forces Reform vote, telling CNN on Sunday that he was “more confident than ever” that lawmakers could do something about tackling armed violence in the United States. Murphy also met with President Joe Biden earlier this week as negotiations intensified at the Capitol. “The urgency of the American public does not seem to be disappearing,” Murphy said Thursday. Parliament voted Wednesday 223-204 to pass a broad package of legislation on gun control called the “Law for the Protection of Our Children.” However, the measure is not expected to pass the Senate, amid widespread opposition to the GOP for tighter arms control. The passage of the law in Parliament took place a few hours after an emotional hearing on armed violence, in which the families of the victims called for more action.
