Gun Control Reality Check

Playbook: “A day after Biden called for an assault weapon ban in the wake of 18 people dying in a pair of back-to-back mass shootings, the political needle on guns hasn’t moved on Capitol Hill.”

“An assault weapons ban is out. Biden might be pushing for this, but no one is talking about it on the Hill right now — at least not seriously.”

“Even background checks are a long shot. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer will bring the pair of House-passed universal background check bills to the Senate floor soon. But as our colleague Marianne LeVine notes in a story up today, three critical swing votes — Manchin, Susan Collins (R-ME) and Pat Toomey (R-PA) — have voiced opposition.”

“Could there be a compromise? Possible but unlikely due to political pressures on both sides.”

Washington Post: “For weeks, the White House has been privately exploring various executive orders related to firearms, such as strengthening background checks and community anti-violence funding.”