Vice President Biden on Tuesday said GOP lawmakers who are threatening to block a vote on gun legislation are making an “almost mind-boggling” move but said he holds hope that the Republican lawmakers will come around and support a vote.
Fourteen GOP lawmakers, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, have said they would likely move to block a vote on gun legislation out of concerns that the bill — which includes a provision to expand background checks —would infringe on American’s right to bear arms.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., announced Tuesday that the Senate will vote on Thursday to try to end the GOP filibuster.
“Why don’t people up there understand this?” Biden said in a speech to law enforcement officers in Washington. “What has to happen to break through the consciousness of the people up on (Capitol) Hill?”
The Senate is expected to begin debate on the gun legislation this week. The current version of the Senate gun bill would strengthen current laws on gun trafficking and straw purchasers, increase grants for improvements in school safety as well as expand background checks to nearly every gun purchase.
h/t USA Today
