After the Nashville school shooting where six died, with pro-gun Republicans in control of the House, it is unlikely that legislation addressing gun violence will make it to President Biden's desk. There have been 130 mass shootings in the U.S. this year, with 38 of them this month, says the Gun Violence Archive. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers called for action after the Nashville shooting, but they differ on what action should be taken. Biden renewed his call for Congress to ban assault weapons and high capacity magazines. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) echoed Biden's plea, reports USA Today..
Republican lawmakers say that Congress should focus on addressing mental health as a root cause of gun violence and increasing the number of "good guys with guns." Rep. Andy Ogles, who represents the Tennessee district where Monday’s shooting took place, said the "real issue facing the country" is mental health. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) criticized Democrats for blocking his 2022 legislation that would have funded a doubling of the number of school resource officers and the hiring of 15,000 mental health professionals for middle and high schools. After the school shooting in Uvalde, Tx., that left 19 children and two adults dead, Biden signed a gun bill meant to keep weapons away from dangerous people. Less than a year later, as another community reels from a mass school shooting, there's little movement on gun legislation that has been introduced in both chambers of Congress. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.) said he does not think the Senate can go further on any gun-related bills, or on background checks, than it did last year.