Reid files cloture motion to advance gun violence bill

{mosads}The Senate gun reform bill would expand background checks on gun purchases, create new penalties on straw purchases and include new funding for school security. The bill doesn’t include an assault weapons ban or limits on magazine clip capacity — although Reid promised to allow a vote on those provisions as an amendment.

Some GOP senators, lead by Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah), Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), have threatened to filibuster any gun-control reform legislation, but several other GOP members came forward Tuesday to say they would not support their colleagues efforts to filibuster debate on the gun-control legislation.

Republicans have expressed concern that extending background checks could create a federal registry of gun owners and make it harder for family members to transfer firearms. Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) are working on a compromise to the background check provision. Reid has said he is hopeful that a bipartisan agreement is reached, but added that he’s move forward on the legislation either way.

Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) has also said he’d introduce his own gun violence bill as an alternative to the Democratic proposal because he’s said there are too many unanswered question on enforcement in the Democrats’ bill.