Senate Judiciary Committee Hears Gun Reform Proposals as Partisan Divide Persists

WASHINGTON, Sept. 11, 2025 (AP) - Lawmakers and advocates clashed Thursday at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing over a package of gun reform measures, spotlighting deep partisan divisions even as mass shootings and community violence mount nationwide.

Nut Graf: The committee convened to consider legislation expanding background checks, funding “red flag” extreme risk protection orders and closing the “ghost gun” loophole. Proponents argued the measures would save lives; opponents warned they would infringe on Second Amendment rights. The debate underscores the enduring stalemate on federal gun policy even in the wake of repeated public tragedies.

Witnesses Testify for and Against Expanded Background Checks

Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy (Conn.) opened the hearing with emotional testimony from a Newtown parent whose daughter survived the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre. “Universal background checks could have blocked every sale today that leads to a mass shooting tomorrow,” Murphy said. He pressed the committee to back S. 2451, a bill requiring background checks for all commercial and private firearm transfers. Republican Sen. John Cornyn (Texas) countered that mandating checks on casual, low-risk transfers would punish law-abiding citizens and do little to deter criminals, who “do not obtain weapons legally in the first place.”

Red Flag Orders and “Ghost Gun” Regulations in the Spotlight

Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) urged swift passage of legislation to fund state extreme risk protection order programs, arguing that removing guns from individuals deemed a threat has reduced suicide and domestic-violence homicides where enacted. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) decried “Red Flag” laws as ripe for abuse, warning they could allow overzealous prosecutors and private petitioners to strip citizens of their firearms without due process.

Bipartisan Ghost Gun Crackdown Gains Traction

Amid broad agreement, the committee unanimously advanced an amendment to classify unserialized “ghost gun” parts as firearms under federal law, closing a loophole that has fueled a 60 percent rise in untraceable weapons recovered at crime scenes. Both sides agreed on the measure’s urgency, reflecting growing public concern over 3D-printed and privately assembled guns.

What’s Next

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said Thursday afternoon that floor consideration of the broader gun package remains uncertain, with Republicans unlikely to allow a final vote before year-end unless Democrats agree to carve out standalone votes on each proposal. House leaders have signaled they will not pass new gun restrictions this session, setting the stage for another legislative impasse as communities nationwide await meaningful federal action.