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By David Morgan

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate was unable to reach a consensus on Wednesday on legislation that would prevent mass shootings in future. This came just days after a Texas gunman shot and killed 19 elementary school students and their teachers.

Although Chuck Schumer, Democratic Senate Majority Leader, urged cooperation, neither he nor Democratic President Joe Biden, in a Tuesday televised speech, suggested a particular approach.

“My Republican colleagues could work with us now. Schumer stated in a speech on the floor that he knows this is not a realistic prospect. Schumer said in a floor speech that “they have the right to choose.”

The Senate will hold a procedural vote on Thursday to launch debate on legislation to fight domestic terrorism that passed the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives after a mass shooting in Buffalo, New York, earlier this month.

Republicans Susan Collins, Pat Toomey and Chris Murphy said that they were in touch with Murphy to discuss possible legislation to ban weapons sales to dangerous people and tighten background checks to gun buyers.

Murphy of Connecticut was the victim in Connecticut’s shooting massacre that saw 26 victims and their educators killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School. He had asked his Senate colleagues to unite to combat gun violence in Tuesday’s speech.

Toomey stated that “my interest remains in doing something in order to improve and extend our background system,” adding that he was in contact with Murphy. “The best thing to do would be what has won Republican support in the past, which would include expanding background checks.”

Collins claimed that Texas’ shooting incident suggested the need for “red flag” legislation. This would allow the courts to use their medical expertise to prohibit firearms from being given to those who are mentally ill.

According to the Republican moderate, “That’s the type of law that would have been able to make a difference in the case since it seems that he suffered mental illness.”

Democratic Senator Kyrsten Synema indicated that there might be some agreement regarding red flag laws. She said: “There is some shared agreement concerning red flag. Which I think might provide a platform to initiate conversations and actually get something done.”

Senator Joe Manchin is one of the most conservative Senate Democrats. However, he told reporters that while he was not willing to alter Senate rules in order to permit Democrats to pass gun legislation, he still believed there would be a bipartisan solution.

HUNDREDS DEATHS

Over the years, hundreds of victims were killed in mass shootings at movie theatres, schools, churches and stores. However, Congress failed to come together on legislation.

Republicans claim a right of bear arms that is protected under the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Democrats feel angered at the political deadlock.

“It is fucking crazy to not do something about this!” Democratic Senator Mark Kelly is furious after his wife Gabby Giffords, an ex-Arizona Congresswoman, suffered a serious brain injury in an assassination attempt back in 2011.

To meet the 60 vote threshold, Democrats will need the support of at least 10 Republicans in order to have the Senate’s 100-seat division 50-50.

Schumer is making initial efforts to vote for legislation that tightens background checks on gun buyers.

Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell condemned the actions of a “deranged gunman” and a “maniac”, but did not address prospects for legislation.

In 2017, a gunman attacked Republicans and their colleagues at a Washington baseball game. In the attack, Steve Scalise suffered injuries.

Republican Senator Mike Rounds claimed that prohibiting assault rifles would have not prevented the Texas shooting.

Rounds said, “Show us how you would prevent this from happening.”

Schumer, along with other Democrats, accused Republicans of being under the thumb of the gun industry as well as the National Rifle Association.

Democratic Senator Sherrod B. Brown stated to Reuters that the gun industry owns one political party. We need to find a dozen Republicans, and they show no sign of ever breaking with NRA.