Senate Passes Gun Control Bill With 15 Republicans Joining Democrats

The Senate passed the most expansive gun control bill in decades Thursday night as 15 Republicans joined every Democrat to advance the bill to the House where it’s expected to pass Friday.

The legislation comes weeks after mass shootings at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York, and an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. The bill passed 65-33 and provides states with grants to implement controversial red flag laws and closes the so-called “boyfriend loophole,” among other measures.

“The gun safety package came to fruition after weeks of talks between Murphy, Cornyn, Sinema, and Tillis,” Politico reported. “While the final package defied political odds, the bipartisan talks had early endorsements from Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.”

The New York Times noted that the 15 GOP senators to vote yes on the legislation were Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, John Cornyn of Texas, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Roy Blunt of Missouri, Richard Burr of North Carolina, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Rob Portman of Ohio, Mitt Romney of Utah, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, Joni Ernst of Iowa, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Todd Young of Indiana.

Gun rights groups had already slammed the legislation and the Republicans who helped advance it Tuesday night, The Daily Wire previously reported.

Gun Owners of America (GOA) said in a press release sent to The Daily Wire that the legislation “would encourage Backdoor Universal Background Checks by redefining many private sellers as gun dealers, financially incentivize states to enact unconstitutional ‘red-flag’ laws, and would allow for so-called ‘enhanced background checks,’ which are arbitrary delays in transferring firearms to adults not yet 21 years-old.”

“Once again, so-called ‘conservative’ Senators are making clear they believe that the rights of American citizens can be compromised away,” Erich Pratt, GOA’s Senior Vice President, said.

“Let me be clear, they have NO AUTHORITY to compromise with our rights, and we will not tolerate legislators who are willing to turn gun owners into second-class citizens,” Pratt continued. “GOA fully opposes this unconstitutional legislation and will continue to encourage our millions of members to make their voices heard to their elected officials on this bill.”

Amanda Prestigiacomo contributed to this report.