Sen. Jacky Rosen Erupts After Sen. JD Vance’s Stock Comments

WASHINGTON — Senator Jacky Rosen, Democrat of Nevada, attacked Senator J.D. Vance, Republican of Ohio, on Monday over comments he made about stocks soaring as the Senate struggles to decide whether to ban them.

Vance, who is widely considered a vice presidential candidate on the Republican ticket with former President Donald Trump, called efforts by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democrats to ban the devices “a huge distraction.” .

“I think we have to ask ourselves: What is the real problem with gun violence in this country, and are we legislating in a way that solves false problems? Or does it solve real problems?” Vance told reporters. “And my strong suspicion is that the Schumer legislation is aimed at a public relations problem, not something that will significantly reduce gun violence in this country.”

Vance also said he was concerned that the bill could “end up just inhibiting the rights of law-abiding Americans.” When pressed about the high number of deaths and injuries in Las Vegas following the 2017 shooting, he said: “The question is: How many people would have been shot alternatively? And you have to ask yourself: will someone really not choose a bump stock because Chuck Schumer passes legislation?

His comments drew a vehement response from Rosen, who faces reelection this year in the state where a gunman killed 58 people in 2017 with firearms equipped with buttstocks.

“This is not a fake issue,” she told reporters. “Let him come to Las Vegas. Let him see the memorial for those people who died. Let him talk to these families. It’s not a fake problem. These families are dead.

“Las Vegas was forever changed because of what the shooter did and the bump stocks helped him. And let JD Vance come – and I’ll take him to the memorials. Let’s talk – talk about our first responders, our ambulance drivers, our police, our firefighters, blood bank people, regular people. What a shame for him. Shame on him for disrespecting the dead,” Rosen said in a rare flash of anger for the normally mild-mannered senator.

His remarks came after the Supreme Court ruled last week that the executive branch cannot use an existing law to ban bump stocks, which modify semiautomatic weapons to fire bullets more quickly.

The 6-3 decision, however, kept the door open for Congress to pass legislation banning firearm accessories, and Schumer said Democrats plan to take up a measure as early as Tuesday.

The war of words between Rosen and Vance pits two senators against each other over a divisive issue that has galvanized many voters as mass shootings become common across the United States. Vance is courting a conservative base that is resistant to limits on firearms, while Rosen’s position appeals to a growing share of voters who have come out in favor of stricter gun laws.

Schumer, DN.Y., also responded to Vance’s comments, telling NBC News, “Talk to the people in Las Vegas who have lost loved ones.”

The majority leader said Democrats will ask the Senate for unanimous consent to legislation by Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., called the BUMP Act, which would revise the U.S. criminal code to prohibit bump stocks.

The regulation was initially implemented by the Trump administration, with the support of many Republicans. But Trump and some of the same Republican lawmakers who supported the regulation have now expressed less interest in taking legislative action to ban the accessories.

Any senator can deny a request for unanimous consent. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told NBC News that he will block the measure, meaning the legislation would not be able to move forward under this expedited process.

“I will oppose any legislative solution,” Graham said Monday.

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., an outspoken supporter of stricter gun laws, said senators should support the measure, calling it a “moderate proposal” that Republicans should have no problem voting for.

“Is it good policy to make it easier for potential mass murderers to get their hands on machine guns? Probably not,” he said. “The idea is to try to make this attractive to Republicans. And we’d be a lot better off if psychopaths couldn’t get their hands on machine guns. Let’s see if we can reach a consensus this week. So I’ll be talking to Republicans all week to see if we can win it.”

At least some Republicans favor a bump stock ban, including Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, who suggested the measure could come through the normal process, requiring 60 votes to advance.

“I support banning bump stocks,” he said. “I hope we get a chance to vote on this.”

Rosen said Monday that he supports the Second Amendment but argued there is much Congress can still do to keep Americans safe.

“Thoughts and prayers don’t bring back anyone you love,” she said. “And it’s up to us to legislate. It’s up to us to keep people safe.”