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A2 UP FRONT
Friday 3 June 2022
Continued from front United States.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D- "We all understand that the
Calif., promised in a letter murder of our children can-
to Democratic colleagues not continue," McBath said.
Thursday that the House will "And we have solutions
vote on the measure next that a majority of American
week, and she promised people believe in. They are
other votes in the weeks common-sense compro-
ahead, including on a bill mises that will keep Ameri-
to to create an AMBER can children alive."
Alert-style notification dur- Several lawmakers par-
ing a mass shooting. Pelosi ticipated in the hearing
also pledged a hearing on remotely, including Rep.
a bill banning military-style Greg Steube, R-Fla., who
semiautomatic rifles. brandished various pistols in
But with Republicans nearly arguing that the bill's provi-
all in opposition, the House sion banning large-capaci-
action will mostly be sym- ty magazines of more than
bolic, merely putting law- 10 rounds amounted to
makers on record about stopping law-abiding citi-
gun control ahead of this zens from purchasing guns
year's elections. The Senate of their choice.
is taking a different course, When Rep. Sheila Jackson
with a bipartisan group House Judiciary Committee Chair Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., top center, speaks and Rep. Jim Jordan, Lee, D-Texas, remarked
striving toward a compro- R-Ohio, top right, the ranking member, listens as the panel holds a markup session at the Capitol that she hoped one of the
mise on gun safety legisla- in Washington, Sept. 13, 2021. guns Steube was holding
tion that can win enough Associated Press was not loaded, Steube
GOP support to become replied, "I'm in my house, I
law. Those talks are making Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, falo, New York, both were me be clear, you are not can do whatever I want
"rapid progress," accord- the top Republican on the 18 and used an AR-15-style going to bully your way to with my guns." It was one of
ing to Sen. Susan Collins of committee, said no one weapon. stripping Americans of fun- several pointed exchanges
Maine, one of the Republi- wants another tragedy. But Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., damental rights," Bishop during the hearing.
can negotiators. he insisted the House bill said that it should be a red said. Any legislative response
Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., would do nothing to stop flag when an 18-year-old The hearing featured emo- to the Uvalde and Buffalo
chairman of the House mass shootings. wants to buy "an assault tional pleas from Demo- shootings will have to get
Judiciary Committee, de- "We need to get serious weapon." cratic lawmakers for Con- through the evenly divid-
fended his chamber's pro- about understanding why "That's what they want on gress to respond to the ed Senate, where support
posals as popular with most this keeps happening. their 18th birthday is an mass shootings after years from at least 10 Republi-
Americans. He dismissed Democrats are always fix- assault weapon? They've of gridlock on gun issues, cans would be needed to
Republican criticism. ated on curtailing the rights got a problem, which one of the most riveting advance the measure to a
"You say that it is too soon of law-abiding citizens rath- means we've got a prob- coming from Rep. Lucy Mc- final vote. A group of sena-
to take action? That we are er than trying to understand lem, which means those 19 Bath of Georgia. tors has been working pri-
'politicizing' these tragedies why this evil happens," Jor- kids and their parents and She recalled how her son, vately this week in hopes of
to enact new policies?" dan said. "Until we figure those two teachers have a Jordan, was shot and killed finding a consensus.
Nadler said. "It has been out the why, we will always problem, forever," Cohen at a gas station by a man Ideas under discussion in-
23 years since Columbine. mourn losses without facing said, referring to the victims who complained about the clude expanding back-
Fifteen years since Virginia the problem. Our job is to in Uvalde. loud music he was listening ground checks for gun
Tech. Ten years since San- figure out the why." Rep. Dan Bishop, R-N.C., to. She said she dreams of purchases and incentiviz-
dy Hook. Seven years since A chief feature of the House pointed to a U.S. appeals who he would have be- ing red-flag laws that allow
Charleston. Four years since bill requires those buying court ruling last month, come. She said racial bias family members, school of-
Parkland and Santa Fe and semi-automatic weapons however, that found Cali- led to his death and those ficials and others to go into
Tree of Life Synagogue in to be at least 21. Only six fornia's ban on the sale of of 10 Black Americans in court and secure orders
Pittsburgh." states require someone to semiautomatic weapons to Buffalo last month and is requiring the police to seize
"Too soon? My friends, what be at least 21 years old to adults under 21 unconstitu- "being replayed with ca- guns from people consid-
the hell are you waiting buy rifles and shotguns. The tional. sual callousness and de- ered threats to themselves
for?" shooters in Uvalde and Buf- "I can tell you this, and let spicable frequency" in the or others.q

U.S. Transportation Dept. lifts restrictions

on Cuba flights

WASHINGTON (AP) — The letter to the Transportation his request, "scheduled
U.S. Transportation Depart- Department on Tuesday and charter air services
ment on Wednesday made asking it to revoke the re- between the United States
it easier for Americans to strictions, and the agency and Cuban airports may re-
travel to Cuba, lifting flight followed through Wednes- sume effective immediate-
restrictions that were estab- day. ly." The Biden administration
lished during the Trump ad- Blinken said opening up announced last month that
ministration. flights to Cuba was "in sup- it would expand flights to
The restrictions had pre- port of the Cuban people Cuba, take steps to loosen
Airport workers receive JetBlue flight 387, the first commercial vented U.S. airline flights and in the foreign policy restrictions on U.S. travelers
flight between the U.S. and Cuba in more than a half century, and chartered flights from interests of the United to the island, and lift restric-
holding a United States, and a Cuban national flag, on the air- going to Cuban cities other States." He said that once tions on money that immi-
port tarmac Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016 in Santa Clara, Cuba. than Havana. Secretary of the Transportation Depart- grants can send to people
Associated Press State Antony Blinken sent a ment followed through on on the island.q