House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi promises action on gun violence, in the midst of a particularly horrifying few weeks of mass shootings. "The American people deserve real action to end the daily epidemic of gun violence that is stealing the lives of our children on campuses, in places of worship and on our streets," she in her post-midterm press conference Thursday. Among the potential measures House Democrats will pursue are restrictions on the sale of high capacity magazines and allowing guns to be temporarily removed from people "deemed an imminent risk to themselves or others." It's a slow start, but they've got this legislation ready to go from earlier efforts.
The political calculus has shifted says Democratic Rep. Ted Deutch who represents the district which includes Parkland, where the massacre at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School galvanized young people around the country. "We saw it start on Tuesday and we’re going to see it accelerate in January," Deutch said. Democrats will have the powerful voice of Lucy McBath, newly elected in Georgia, in their caucus. McBath's son, Jordan David, was fatally shot in 2012 and gun violence was the centerpiece of her campaign.
So far, at least 17 incoming Democrats back stricter gun laws. There will be "new energy" on gun issues, vows Kris Brown, co-president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. She campaigned with three Virginia Democrats—Jennifer Wexton, Abigail Spanberger and Elaine Luria—in the final week of the campaign, and says "Our base is worked up, and people are reacting in a positive way at the ballot box. […] A large number of folks showed up and knocked on doors and said they finally have a candidate who will do something about gun violence." All three of those members campaigned on the issue and defeated NRA-backed Republicans.
Republicans can't avoid the issue and just keep working for the NRA, says Deutch. "They learned this week that just won't work anymore."