Gun Control Reform In Senate Has The Votes To Clear First Hurdle

[Tx4obama]

Gun Control Reform In Senate Has The Votes To Clear First Hurdle

WASHINGTON -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) likely has the votes on gun control legislation to clear its first procedural hurdle -- a victory for the gun control community, though one that hardly guarantees the bill's passage.

The majority leader announced on Tuesday evening he would submit for a vote the bill to expand background checks, implement a federal trafficking statute and enhance school safety measures. That would set up a Senate vote on Thursday. To help push matters along, President Barack Obama was spending Tuesday calling senators to lobby them on the gun measures, a White House official confirmed. The official did not reveal which senators would be receiving calls.

At least eight Republican Senators said that they would support bringing the measures to the Senate floor for amendment and debate. A number of others said they had not ruled out voting to clear that first procedural hurdle.

Should those numbers hold, Reid will have the 60 votes needed to move forward on gun policy reform. Two members of his own caucus said they were noncommittal on the first procedural vote, but their defections (should they happen) would be insufficient to sustain a filibuster.

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/09/gun-control-reform_n_3046182.html

[pipoman]

1. Predictions..a bill will pass..after amendments..

1. The NICS will be made available for private intrastate sales, but background checks on private intrastate sales will not be required federally.

2. a Federal trafficking statute already exists, but will be strengthened by harsher penalties..

3. School security will be funded partially by the Feds.