Mitch McConnell was asked about the ongoing talks over gun control legislation in the US Senate during an appearance in Kentucky on Wednesday.
And his answer made clear why betting on something significant getting passed – even in the wake of the Uvalde school shooting – is still pretty unlikely.
“We have a Second Amendment to the Constitution. We take it seriously. There’s the right to keep and bear arms in this country,” McConnell said, according to CNN’s Ali Zaslav and Ted Barrett. “And so what I’ve done is encourage some bipartisan discussions that are going on. In fact, I just had a call with one of the members of it to see if we can find a way forward consistent with the Second Amendment that targets the problem.”
Which, at first blush, might well make you think McConnell has had something of a change of heart on guns. He’s encouraging bipartisan talks! He just had a phone call with one of the members trying to negotiate a deal!
But when dealing with McConnell, you always have to remember that he chooses his words very carefully. So you have to parse everything he says with that same care.
The key line from that McConnell quote above is this (bolding is mine): “I just had a call with one of the members of it to see if we can find a way forward consistent with the Second Amendment that targets the problem.”
What does McConnell mean there? 1) That he is not in favor of anything that he perceives to undermine the Second Amendment. 2) That he is wary of solutions that stray from what he believes the “problem” that sits at the heart of these school shootings actually is.
McConnell went on to make clear that he believes that problem is twofold: mental health and school safety. Neither of which, you will notice, deals directly with guns.
“So, hopefully, we can find a way to come together and make some progress on this horrendous problem consistent with our Constitution and our values,” concluded McConnell.
Which, again, sounds promising! But remember that McConnell has already told you his values (protect the Second Amendment) and what he believes to be the problem (mental health, hardening schools).
The Point: McConnell is a master of saying what sounds like compromise but upon further examination is just a doubling-down on his previously held positions. This is a prime example.
