Sen. Chris Murphy pops Biden’s hopes for assault weapons ban, says the votes aren’t there

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., threw chilly water on President Biden’s hopes to move an assault weapons ban in the course of the lame duck Congress on Sunday.

Murphy argued that the votes for such a invoice are “most likely not” there for Democrats, regardless of the president’s push to enact a ban following a spate of shootings in current weeks. The 50-50 break up in Congress means Democrats would want 10 Republicans to defect and vote for the ban with a purpose to overcome a filibuster.

“I’m glad that President (Joe) Biden is gonna be pushing us to take a vote on an assault weapons ban,” he informed CNN’s Dana Bash. “The Home has already handed it. It’s sitting in entrance of the Senate. Does it have 60 votes within the Senate proper now? Most likely not, however let’s see if we are able to attempt to get that quantity is near 60 as attainable.”

“If we don’t have the votes, then we’ll discuss to [Senate Majority Leader Chuck] Schumer and possibly come again subsequent yr, with possibly an extra senator, and see if we are able to do higher,” he added.

DEM GOV. POLIS DECLINES TO ENDORSE BIDEN’S CALL FOR AN ‘ASSAULT WEAPONS’ BAN

Biden first referred to as for an assault weapons ban following the taking pictures on the Membership Q nightclub in Colorado earlier this month. The suspect in that case, who described himself as non-binary, is accused of utilizing an AR-15-style rifle to homicide 5 folks on the LGBTQ nightclub.

“Gun violence continues to have a devastating and specific influence on LGBTQI+ communities throughout our nation and threats of violence are rising. We noticed it six years in the past in Orlando, when our nation suffered the deadliest assault affecting the LGBTQI+ neighborhood in American historical past,” Biden wrote in response to the assault.

President Biden has referred to as for an assault weapons ban following a current spate of shootings.
(AP Picture/Carolyn Kaster, File)

COLORADO MAN ARRESTED IN SHOOTING THAT KILLED 12-YEAR-OLD, INJURED 14-YEAR-OLD: POLICE

“We should tackle the general public well being epidemic of gun violence in all of its varieties. Earlier this yr, I signed essentially the most vital gun security legislation in practically three many years, along with taking different historic actions. However we should do extra. We have to enact an assault weapons ban to get weapons of conflict off America’s streets,” he added.

Colorado Membership Q taking pictures suspect Anderson Aldrich was seen Wednesday in court docket for the primary time.
(KXRM)

Biden reiterated his push on Thanksgiving Day, although appeared to conflate “assault weapons” with all semi-automatic weapons, which make up a big swath of rifle, handgun, and shotgun purchases within the U.S. A semi-automatic weapon mechanically reloads every shot however solely fires one spherical for every set off pull.

“The thought we nonetheless permit semi-automatic weapons to be bought is sick. Simply sick,” Biden stated throughout a press occasion in Nantucket, Massachusetts. “I’m going to attempt to eliminate assault weapons.”

Jessica Chasmar contributed to this report.