New shootings plunge Biden, Congress into gun control debate

President BidenJoe BidenGood luck, Dan Bongino! The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden’s next act: Massive infrastructure plan with tax hikes Conservative group says polling shows Dems’ voting rights bill ‘out of sync with American voters’ MORE on Tuesday urged Congress to enact meaningful gun reforms after the second mass shooting in under a week, plunging Washington back into a familiar debate where lawmakers have stalemated in recent years.

Eight people in the Atlanta area and 10 people in Boulder, Colo., were killed in the most recent shootings, but there was little sign it would move the needle in Congress — even as political leaders who back gun reforms noted the United States is the only country in the world that continually suffers from mass shooting events.

There had been no mass shooting in a year as much of the country stayed home from work and school during the pandemic, a fact noted ruefully by former President Obama.

“A once-in-a-century pandemic cannot be the only thing that slows mass shootings in this country,” Obama, who failed to convince Congress to move forward on significant reforms after the Newtown, Conn., elementary school shooting in 2012, said in a statement.

“We shouldn’t have to choose between one type of tragedy and another. It’s time for leaders everywhere to listen to the American people when they say enough is enough — because this is a normal we can no longer afford,” he said.

Biden in remarks from the White House urged Congress to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines and to close loopholes in background checks for firearms.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick DurbinDick DurbinMeet the Make the Senate Great Again caucus Sunday shows preview: Biden administration grapples with border surge; US mourns Atlanta shooting victims Hillicon Valley: Senate Republicans call for hearing on FTC’s Obama-era Google decision | US grid at rising risk to cyberattack, says GAO | YouTube rolls out TikTok rival in the US MORE (D-Ill.), the No. 2 Senate Democrat, called for a “moment of action” in addition to a moment of silence to address the “epidemic” of U.S. gun violence.  

Republicans were muted in their comments, however, with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellThe Hill’s Morning Report – Biden’s next act: Massive infrastructure plan with tax hikes Senate Republicans torn over return of earmarks The Memo: Trump battles to stay relevant MORE (R-Ky.) blasting Democratic calls to eliminate the filibuster in comments from the floor. McConnell did not use his floor time to address the shootings. Later, he condemned the shootings and said he was open to discussion on gun reform but acknowledged “deep-seated philosophical differences” between Democrats and Republicans on how to address gun violence.

During a previously scheduled Senate hearing on reducing gun violence Tuesday, Sen. Ted CruzRafael (Ted) Edward CruzThe Hill’s Morning Report – Biden’s next act: Massive infrastructure plan with tax hikes Senate Republicans torn over return of earmarks Trump ramps up activities, asserts power within GOP MORE (R-Texas) accused Democrats of “ridiculous theater”…