A (very) partial list of Republicans blocking gun legislation
Data keep getting in the way of a "violent left"
Hours after the assassination attempt on Donald Trump, JD Vance (who many expect to be announced as the VP pick later today) tweeted the following:
He was not alone. The notion of a “violent left” has dominated Twitter and right-leaning sites for two days.
No data support this, not the least that the shooter was a registered Republican whose former classmates describe him as “deeply conservative.”
With that in mind, here’s an partial list of gun control legislation that the national Republican party has blocked in recent years:
Universal background checks for all gun purchases, including private sales and gun shows. Wyoming Senator John Barasso said at the time that AR-15s “work the same way as popular shotguns and other rifles used for hunting and personal protection.”
Assault weapons ban. Both Democrats and President Bush pushed to extend the assault weapons ban, which had a predetermined sunset date in September 2004. A GOP-controlled House and Senate allows the ban to expire.
Expansion of the federal background check system. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act broke a three-decade stalemate in Congress, but many items were taken off the table to appease the right, “including raising the minimum age to buy assault-type weapons, mandatory waiting periods for all gun sales and universal background checks.”
Legislation to prevent individuals on terror watch lists from purchasing firearms. Following the Sandy Hook and Pulse nightclub shootings, efforts to block people on the no-fly and terrorism watch lists from purchasing firearms is blocked by Republican Senators.
Efforts to close the "Charleston loophole" that allows gun sales to proceed if a background check is not completed within 3 days. Despite support from up to 90% of the American public, Republicans stop the closing of the loophole.
Attempts to raise the minimum age for purchasing certain firearms. Instead of raising the minimum age, Republicans float the idea of “hardening” America’s schools, through tactics like arming teachers and installing metal detectors.
Proposals to limit high-capacity magazines. Following Sandy Hook, “a bipartisan compromise to expand background checks for gun buyers, a ban on assault weapons and a ban on high-capacity gun magazines all failed to get the 60 votes needed under an agreement between both parties.” At the same time, the Republicans tried to expand permission to carry concealed weapons (which was also blocked).
"Red flag" laws allowing temporary removal of guns from people deemed dangerous. While 20 states and Washington, DC have passed red flag laws as of 2023, the GOP has repeatedly blocked national legislation from being implemented.
Measures to regulate "ghost guns" assembled from kits. After the Biden administration passed legislation blocking “ghost guns” (unserialized guns assembled from components), 16 GOP states attorney general and pro-gun organizations unsuccessfully attempted to block it from being enforced.
Moving on to the state level, here’s another partial list of gun control measures that have been blocked (or pro-gun measures passed) by Republicans:
Assault rifle ban. Just months before the assassination attempt on Donald Trump, “nearly all of Pennsylvania’s Republican congressional delegation voted against a bill to reinstate a nationwide assault weapons ban, and the U.S. Senate GOP blocked the legislation.”
Secure storage of firearms. Michigan’s Republican legislators stopped a Democratic proposal to require secure storage of firearms in 2023.
Expanded background checks for gun purchases. The same Michigan Republicans blocked expanded background checks in the state. In total, seven gun reform bills were stopped by Michigan’s GOP in 2023.
Limiting oversight on gun laws. Kentucky became a “Second Amendment Sanctuary,” where the GOP is trying to “ban state and local law enforcement from helping enforce any federal laws or regulations enacted on guns, ammunition and accessories since Democratic President Joe Biden took office.” Missouri went a step further, making it illegal for local police to cooperate with federal authorities “in many gun investigations.”
Waiting period for gun purchases. Early this year, New Hampshire Republicans blocked a red flag law and a three-day mandatory waiting period before being able to purchase a firearm.
Concealed carry legislation. GOP-controlled Florida and Nebraska passed legislation allowing citizens to conceal carry firearms without a permit.
Expanded access to guns. Earlier this year, “Tennessee lawmakers have instead moved to make firearms even more accessible, proposing bills this year to arm more teachers and allow college students to carry weapons on campus, among other measures.”
Limit gun-free zones. Republicans in Kentucky, Ohio, Nebraska, Texas, and Virginia have all tried make guns not only more accessible, but limit the number of public places that guns are restricted.
An argument often used by the right is that the Second Amendment protects citizens. Yet in a democracy, the majority of citizens should be able to decide what that means and how gun laws are enforced. Here are a few statistics about the actual “will of the people.”
Background Checks. A large majority of both Democrats and Republicans support background checks for private gun sales and gun shows, with 90% of Democrats and 77% of Republicans wanting more restrictions.
Mental Health Restrictions. Both parties largely agree on preventing the mentally ill from purchasing guns: 89% of both Democrats and Republicans are in favor of such restrictions.
Concealed Carry. Sentiments diverge here. A significant gap exists in support for allowing concealed carry in more places: 72% of Republicans are in favor compared to only 26% of Democrats.
Arming Teachers. Another divergence, with 69% of Republicans showing support for teachers to carrying guns in schools, with only 26% of Democrats excited about the prospect.
Gun Ownership Rates. Republicans are more likely to own guns (44%) compared to Democrats (20%).