In the wake of two mass shootings, President Joe Biden has called for gun reform. But in a tightly divided Senate, is this possible? Is there the political will in Congress? We speak with Mathew Littman, Executive Director of 97 percent, Dudley Brown, President of the National Association for Gun Rights and Michael Anestis, Executive Director New Jersey Research Center at Rutgers University on the issue.
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As America recoils after two mass shootings in quick succession President Joe Biden urging the House and Senate to act on gun reform. Many say, this is Biden's first major political test. Mathew Littman, Executive Director of 97 percent a lobby group advocating for background checks says that this challenge doesn't come out of the blue. Mathew Littman, Executive Director 97 Percent the Biden administration has been very good on the gun issue.I've met with them. Other people have met with them who are leaders in the gun space as well they are very interested in doing something on guns. As a matter of fact, universal background checks already passed the House since waiting for a vote in the Senate. Those against any modification to gun laws as they currently stand warn that the Biden administration could be wading into murky waters. Dudley Brown, President National Association for Gun Laws "I don't believe the second amendment has any room for compromise. I don't believe most of the state constitutions leave any room for compromise on the Issue'' Experts on gun violence say however, say they are not optimistic that laws will change, but argue there's some space for both sides of the debate to reach in the middle around safety. Michael Anestis, Executive Director NJ Institute on Gun Violence, Rutgers University When folks talk about changing the degree to which there's rights to access.That's not the conversation to have necessarily. I think there's ways to frame things around safety. I think that is our path to success is more through reaching out than screaming. For Joe Biden this not his first attempt to grapple with gun laws, he saw the political kickback first hand after spearheading the brady bill mandating a federal background check for firearms in 1993. Dudley Brown "Republicans took control in the '94 elections because of that vote. Democrats have that in the back on their mind still. And they should." A road Biden has travelled before as Senator and Vice President. Now as President his campaign message of unity might truly be put to the test.
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