The Hitchhiker’s Guide to a Potential Gun Violence-Reduction Deal

• A bipartisan coalition of Senate negotiators released a rough outline for their tentative agreement.
• They have till the end of next week to move the bill through the Senate and House.
• If passed, it would be the first time in years that Congress has taken action on gun violence.

Over the weekend, a bipartisan coalition of Senate negotiators released a rough outline for their tentative agreement to combat the epidemic of gun violence. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to a potential gun violence-reduction deal.

That’s because, in the aftermath of mass killings in Texas, Oklahoma, and New York, they’re racing against the clock to get something done. If Congress acts quickly following these tragedies, it will have done so in an unprecedented amount of time.

In fewer than two weeks, the July 4th recess will begin. Lawmakers who are eager to reach a deal are skeptical that they would be able to leave Washington without a vote on a package to reduce gun violence.

This gives them till the end of next week to move the bill through the Senate and House of Representatives.

Read More: US senators announce limited deal on gun violence measures

In the coming days, the bipartisan group plans to release the draft language and begin socializing it with senators.

The fact that the bipartisan group includes ten Republicans is crucial. If that group remains united and all Democrats vote yes, the Senate will reach the key 60-vote barrier. Sixty years are required to overcome two rounds of filibusters: one to begin a discussion on the measure and another to cease work on the bill. The Senate would just need 51 votes to pass the bill.

Supporters of the bill are hoping to have it passed by both the House and the Senate by the end of next week. Consider the Newtown shooting, which occurred in December of 2012.

There was never a meaningful legislative reaction to the slew of other mass shootings that have occurred in recent decades. After the shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Democrats organized a sit-in on the House floor.

If Congress passes legislation to reduce gun violence, it will be the first time in years that Congress has taken action on the issue. Only a few weeks after such heinous acts.

As a result, math is not just important in this round. But there’s also the issue of time.