President Joe Biden has promised to meet with Congress about gun legislation in the wake of the tragic school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
The Democratic-led House Judiciary Committee plans to meet Thursday to advance new gun control measures, though it is likely to meet resistance from Republicans. Biden was asked Monday whether he would meet with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
BIDEN NOT YET 'NEGOTIATING' WITH GOP DESPITE CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE GUN CONTROL REFORM
"I will meet with the Congress on guns, I promise you," Biden said. He did not respond to a question about when that would happen.
The president has not met with Republican lawmakers about gun control bills yet, though he has called on Congress to pass legislation following the mass shootings in Uvalde and Buffalo, New York. Biden and Democrats would need at least 10 Republican votes in the Senate to pass any such legislation, but he has hesitated to use the bully pulpit to force Republicans to the negotiating table.
McConnell, who has long opposed gun reform efforts, directed Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) after the Uvalde shooting to work on a bipartisan bill with a group of Democrats led by Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT). Biden has said that Congress must act to advance any substantive reform.
Bills introduced by members of both parties have so far been rejected by the opposition. Republican senators blocked movement on a bill Democrats say would equip law enforcement agencies with more resources to combat domestic terrorism and white supremacy in the military.
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Republicans have proposed their own bill, which would codify the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse into law, but Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) rejected it.