Members of the "bi-partisan" group of Senators tasked with "doing something" made the rounds on Sunday talking head shows on June 12 touting details of a "breakthrough" deal reached by the team. After reviewing those details, the net result seems to be rather Seinfeldian... A nothing deal.
The deal will
- offer money to states to implement additional "red flag" protections to allow guns to be taken from those deemed to be mentally unstable
- improve processes for sharing mental records for those under 21
- increase spending for mental health programs
But note... The deal OFFERS states money to implement programs. It doesn't impose any REQUIREMENTS and no Republican dominated state will change policy so this has no effect in half the country.
The deal will NOT
- move the minimum age for gun purchases to 21
- eliminate the sale of large capacity magazines
- alter liability laws for gun manufacturers or parents to shift costs of gun violence onto causers of gun violence
It's worth noting that there is a pending case on gun restrictions (the Bruen case involving New York State restrictions on concealed carry) looming in the Supreme Court. A ruling is expected in the next two weeks and court watchers are expecting the conservative majority to not only support the elimination of New York State's concealed carry law but to use this as a pretext to drastically EXPAND the interpretation of Second Amendment protections against ANY restriction of gun purchase and posession rights.
I can't help but assume that Republicans know this, that Republicans know this deal does nothing to change incentives driving gun violence but that Republicans also know coverage of this deal looks like they finally "moved" on this issue and will likely defuse anger in the public... at least until after November 2022. That may allow a possible change of control in both the House and Senate to Republicans who will CERTAINLY do nothing after November 2022 to begin solving this problem.
WTH
