By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
A leading Capitol Hill gun control proponent may have just thrown a bucket of cold water at Joe Biden’s promise to push for a ban on so-called “assault weapons” during the lame-duck session before Republicans take control of the U.S. House in January.
Connecticut Democrat Sen. Chris Murphy acknowledged during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday there are not likely to be the 60 votes necessary in the Senate to pass the ban, which Biden has been advocating for years.
GOP control of the House translates to the Biden gun control agenda essentially dying on the vine over the next two years. But between now and then, Biden has promised to push for a ban, and Murphy is happy to see it, according to Fox News.
Murphy’s admission came after New York Times columnist David Brooks said on the PBS “Newshour” program he would be willing to “give up certain privacies” if the U.S. would adopt gun control policies similar to those in Europe. No European country has the equivalent of the Second Amendment.
During his gun control discussion, Murphy blasted local law enforcement agencies around the country for announcing they would not enforce certain gun control laws.
“They have decided that they are going to essentially refuse to implement laws that are on the books,” Murphy said. “That is a growing problem in this country. And I think we’re gonna have to have a conversation about that in the United States Senate. Do we want to continue to supply funding to law enforcement in counties that refuse to implement state and federal gun laws?”
It’s an ironic position, considering how Second Amendment advocates have been insisting for years that instead of passing more gun control laws, existing statutes should be enforced to prosecute criminals. Murphy estimated 60 percent of law enforcement agencies are refusing to enforce some gun control laws. For example, Oregon voters just adopted a new, restrictive gun law requiring training and licensing before anyone can buy a gun. At least three county sheriffs have announced they will not enforce the section of that law banning the sale or purchase of so-called “high capacity” magazines after the law’s effective Dec. 8 date.
Meanwhile, columnist Brooks told PBS it will take “a gigantic culture shift in this country” for European-type gun laws to be adopted here.
“I think it would be something,” Brooks stated. “I think would be good not only to head off shootings, but good to live in a society where we cared more intimately about each other. And I would be willing to give up certain privacies for that to happen. But for many Americans that would just be a massive cultural shift to regard our community and regard our common good in more frankly a European style. I think it would benefit our society in a whole range of areas, but it’s hard to see that kind of culture change to a society that’s been pretty individualistic for a long, long time.”
