The House vote, however, will amount to little more than a political messaging exercise because of firm Republican opposition to substantial new gun restrictions. Of the five House Republicans voting for the bill — Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.), Anthony Gonzalez (Ohio), Chris Jacobs (N.Y.), Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) and Fred Upton (Mich.) — only Fitzpatrick is seeking reelection. AdvertisementRep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), a leading gun rights supporter among House Republicans, promoted legislation at a news conference Wednesday that would put billions of federal dollars into school security programs but not touch gun laws. GOP leaders forced a vote on Hudson’s bill Wednesday as an alternative to the Democratic gun bill; it failed along party lines. While those hard-line voices dominated the floor debate Wednesday, another group of House Republicans stood on the sideline waiting alongside Democrats to see if the Senate could produce a passable bill.

Source: Washington Post June 09, 2022 02:34 UTC