WASHINGTON — As the Senate debates whether to ban bump stocks, Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) on Monday blasted Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) for his comments about bump stocks.
Vance, who is widely considered a potential Republican vice presidential candidate alongside former President Donald Trump, called efforts by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and other Democrats to ban the devices a “major setback.”
“I think we have to ask ourselves: What is the real gun violence problem in this country, and are we putting in legislation that solves a false problem or that solves the real problem?,” Vance told reporters. “And I strongly suspect that Schumer’s legislation is a PR problem and will not actually reduce gun violence in this country.”
Vance also said he was concerned the bill would “only undermine the rights of law-abiding Americans.” Asked about the 2017 Las Vegas massacre that left 58 people dead, he said, “The question is, how many people were shot instead? And you have to ask yourself, is there anyone who would actually choose bump stocks because Gov. Chuck Schumer passed this bill?”
The comments drew a strong backlash from Rosen, who is up for reelection this year. The Las Vegas shooter used a gun equipped with a bump stock.
“This is not a fictional issue,” she told reporters. “Let him come to Las Vegas, let him see the memorials of the people who died, let him talk to the families. This is not a fictional issue. The families are dead.”
“Las Vegas has been forever changed by the actions of this shooter. Bump stocks helped him. Let’s have J.D. Vance come. I’ll bring him to the memorial. We’ll talk. About the paramedics, the ambulance drivers, the police, the firefighters, the blood bank workers, the public. Shame on him. Shame on him for disrespecting the dead,” the normally genial Rosen said in a rare outburst of anger.
The Supreme Court ruled last week that current law does not allow government agencies to ban bump stocks, which are modifications to semi-automatic rifles that allow them to fire faster.
But the 6-3 decision leaves open the possibility that Congress could pass a ban on firearm accessories, and Schumer said Democrats plan to take up the bill as early as Tuesday.The war of words between Rosen and Vance pits the two senators at odds over a key issue that is galvanizing many voters as mass shootings become more common in the U.S. While Vance is trying to win over conservative supporters who resist gun control, Rosen’s stance appeals to a growing number of voters who favor stricter gun laws.
Schumer also responded to Vance’s comments, telling NBC News, “I want the people who lost loved ones in Las Vegas to listen.”
He said Democrats plan to ask the Senate to unanimously consent to a bill from Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-Ill.), known as the “BUMP Act,” that would amend the U.S. Criminal Code to ban bump stocks.
The Trump administration initially introduced the restrictions with the support of many Republicans in Congress, but President Trump and some of his Republican supporters now seem less interested in enacting legislation to ban the jewelry.
Senators can reject the unanimous consent request, and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-Lausanne, told NBC News he would block the bill, meaning it cannot move forward under the fast-track process.
“I will be opposed to any legislative amendments,” Graham said Monday.
Vance, meanwhile, said he was concerned about Schumer’s legislative priorities.
“This is the third week that Chuck Schumer has focused on fake issues instead of real issues,” he said. “We have real legislation. We have a rail safety bill that he promised to put on the floor for a vote. Let’s take action that can actually pass and actually make the country a better place.”
Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat and vocal supporter of stricter gun control, said senators should support a bill to ban bump stocks, calling it a “moderate proposal” that Republicans would have no problem supporting.
“Is it good politics to make it easier for mass murderers to get machine guns? Probably not,” he said. “The idea is to make this attractive to Republicans, and we’ll be a lot better off if we can make it harder for psychopaths to get machine guns. Let’s see if we can get an agreement this week. So I’ll be talking to Republicans all week long and seeing if we can somehow get an agreement.”
At least some Republicans support a bump stock ban, including Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, who has indicated the bill could be passed through the regular process, requiring 60 votes to pass.
“I support banning bump stocks,” he said. “I hope we get a chance to vote on this.”
Rosen said Monday that he supports the Second Amendment, but argued there is more Congress can do to keep people safe.
“Thoughts and prayers alone cannot bring a loved one back to life,” she said. “It’s our responsibility to make the laws. It’s our responsibility to keep people safe.”
