Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy joined President Donald Trump and a bipartisan group of legislators at the White House Wednesday for an open forum on gun laws.
Speaking in front of the cameras, Murphy charged the president with leading on the issue.
"I think we have a unique opportunity to get comprehensive background checks, make sure that nobody buys a gun in this country that's a criminal, that's seriously mentally ill, that's on the terrorist watch list," he said. "But, Mr. President, it's going to have to be you that brings Republicans to the table on this, because right now the gun lobby would stop it in its tracks."
"I like that responsibility, Chris," Trump said. “I really do. I think it’s time that a president stepped up. I’m talking Democrat and Republican presidents, they’ve not stepped up.”
Speaking afterward, Murphy told Connecticut Public Radio that he thinks the debate has shifted since the shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida two weeks ago.
“The president made some news today. He supported a whole bunch of things that the NRA hates—universal background checks, protective orders, raising the age to buy assault weapons," said Murphy. "The question now is, is he going to do anything about it? All that he has [to do] is convince a handful of Republicans to support those things and they’ll pass because Democrats support all of that.”
Trump also said that he’ll use an executive order to ban bump stocks – modifications to semi-automatic weapons can allow them to shoot faster.
But Murphy said that bump stocks have never been used in a school shooting and that more needs to be done.
“Mass shooters don’t need a bump stock to kill dozens of people in a short time. You’ve got to get these assault weapons off of the street,” he said.
He and a group of senators that includes Republican John Cornyn of Texas have proposed a bill that would incentivize state and federal authorities to follow through and comply with the existing law on background checks—on every gun purchase. It’s called the “Fix NICS Act.”
There’s no timetable on it, but Murphy said the bill is ready for open debate—and its passage depends on getting more support from Republicans.
Meanwhile, Connecticut's senior senator, Richard Blumenthal told NPR’s Morning Edition Wednesday that another proposal on the table - raising the legal age for buying an assault weapon, is only a "baby step." He said age restrictions must be accompanied by other measures.
He also wants to see a federal law that would allow authorities to confiscate a person's guns if a judge rules they are a threat to themselves or others.
"A law enforcement officer, like the FBI, knowing that the shooter in Parkland was saying that he was threatening schools or individuals would go to a federal magistrate, a judge, and seek a court order that would enable the gun to be taken away," said Blumenthal. "Some guns temporarily, others, perhaps, for longer periods of time.”
On the state level, Connecticut has had such a law in place since 1999. Indiana, California, Oregon and Washington have similar laws. Rhode Island has also established a so-called Red Flag policy. Legislation is set to be introduced in the Ocean State this week.