Legislators Debate Gun Control
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We ran the numbers: There are 769 news articles covering this topic. 19% (149) are left leaning, 31% (235) center, 50% (385) right leaning.
In the aftermath of the Dayton and El Paso shootings, debates about gun control rage in the House and Senate. Democrats are pushing hard for stricter laws regarding background checks, assault weapons, and magazine limits and Homeland Security will conduct hearings on the threats of white supremacy and domestic terrorism that have escalated in recent years. Republicans, including President Trump, have argued that issues of mental illness, violent video games, and hatred rather than gun control laws lie at the root of mass shootings, “In one voice, our nation must condemn racism, bigotry and white supremacy — these sinister ideologies must be defeated”.
The legislation Congress is considering is unclear, but there has been some bipartisan support for “red-flag laws” which remove guns from those deemed a risk to public safety. There is much discussion on all sides of what can be done given the current House and Senate composition.
A right-leaning article from Fox News highlights a growing call in the Democratic party for a ban on assault weapons in the aftermath of the shootings. Articles from the right highlight the history of gun control legislation and how the GOP could respond to the shootings while maintaining the support of the second amendment.
A Left-leaning article highlights the protests and the rising number of mass shootings–condemning President Trump’s response to the recent tragedies, “One message is loud and clear: It is about the hate and the hateful rhetoric emanating from the White House, and it is also about our lax gun laws. We are arming hate in this country.”
A center-leaning article from The Hill, in contrast, looks to solutions– emphasizing the potential that the House would be called back from recess if the Senate was able to pass background check legislation that would require House action.
From the center
Pelosi says House recess could be cut short if Senate passes background checks bill
The Hill