Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer harshly criticized Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Sunday for blocking gun control legislation that is backed by the vast majority of Americans.
“We’ve got a big fight coming up in Washington, and that is on guns – basically, universal background checks,” said the New York Democrat during an appearance on “The Cats Roundtable” radio show hosted by John Catsimatidis on AM 970 in New York on the eve of the return of Congress from summer recess.
“It has the support of 93 percent of the American people, 80 percent of all gun owners are for it, 85 percent of Republicans.… Everyone is for it, but McConnell is standing in the way right now.”
McConnell has so far not allowed the legislation to come to the floor for a vote.
Schumer, who was the author of the Brady law in 1993 requiring universal background checks, explained the loopholes that have developed over the years.
“So many guns are purchased on-line to get around the background checks,” the senator said. “When we passed the law there was no on-line. And gun shows, which back then were very small and usually used to show old-fashion guns… now it’s become a major way for people who don’t want a background check to get around [the law].”
Schumer said he supports the Second Amendment’s right to bear arms, but said “felons shouldn’t get guns. Spousal abusers shouldn’t get guns. Those adjudicated mentally ill shouldn’t get guns.”
Schumer stressed that “I think we [can] pass the bill, [because] even a very conservative Republican legislator like Patrick Toomey is for it,” if only McConnell allows it to come up for a vote.
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