Since taking office in January 2021, U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock has at times quietly seethed about the inertia of Congress. He lamented to colleagues and advisors about how partisan divides and longstanding practices like the filibuster often got in the way of what he hoped to accomplish.
He had those moments when legislation to enact federal elections standards stalled and when various health care proposals went nowhere, even when they had majority support. But, more recently, Warnock had felt that frustration on gun control, especially during a stretch last month that included mass shootings at a school in Tennessee, a bank in Kentucky and a teenager’s birthday party in Alabama.
That’s why on Wednesday morning the Georgia Democrat met privately with Senate Leader Chuck Schumer to encourage him to push forward with legislation to enact new gun control measures. It was planned to be another behind-the-scenes attempt by Warnock to fire up an often smoldering Senate.
Things changed quickly roughly an hour later when Warnock learned that a gunman was on the loose in Midtown Atlanta after opening fire in a medical office waiting room. Not only were several people injured and one woman dead, but Warnock’s two small children were on lockdown in schools nearby.
He quickly prepared a speech and delivered it on the Senate floor. The senator and pastor was also an outraged Atlantan.
“This is knocking on all of our doors,” he said. “And I feel this this afternoon, in a very real sense. “I feel it in my bones because my own two children were on lockdown this afternoon. I have two small children, and their schools are on lockdown responding to this tragedy. They are there, I’m here hoping and praying that they are safe.”
Warnock went on to plead for Congress to pass gun control measures, including universal background checks, saying “thoughts and prayers are not enough.”
His speech drew national attention. Warnock later appeared on MSNBC and CNN. He told CNN’s Abby Phillip that he is not willing to accept gun violence as part of the fabric of America and is prepared to push the issue further.
“I’m not about to let any of us — any of my colleagues on either side of the aisle — off the hook,” Warnock said. “We must act and we must act now.”
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HOMETOWN HORROR. U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock was just one of many Georgia leaders directly impacted by the Midtown Atlanta shooting.
Also state Sen. Josh McLaurin, D-Sandy Springs, was meeting a friend for lunch in Midtown next door to the Northside Medical building where the shootings happened.
At one point during the lockdown, McLaurin tweeted: “We don’t have to live like this.”
When the shooter fled the scene and left a car in nearby Cobb County, multiple nearby schools went into lockdown, including Campbell High School, where state Rep. Teri Anulewicz’s children were in class.
The Smyrna Democrat later wrote on Twitter, “1 dead, 4 critically injured, homes & schools locked down & terrified, parks & playgrounds closed, kids baseball & soccer practice canceled, graduating HS senior events canceled, legions of LEOs at risk… at least there’s total freedom for anyone who wants a gun, right?”
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Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC
Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC
KEMP WEIGHS IN. Gov. Brian Kemp monitored events from his office at the state Capitol. His team said he was “in constant communication” with state law enforcement and had also spoken with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens as events unfolded throughout the day.
He released a statement late Wednesday night after law enforcement officials announced they had arrested the Midtown shooting suspect, which focused on the actions of law enforcement officers.
“We are heartbroken by today’s tragedy in Midtown Atlanta and join all Georgians in praying for those impacted and their loved ones,” he said. “We’re also thanking God for the brave local and state law enforcement who responded forcefully and without hesitation.”
After Kemp posted his statement to Twitter, dozens of replies criticized his efforts to loosen gun restrictions in Georgia, including the bill he signed last year that allows Georgians to carry concealed weapons without a license.
The Georgia House Democratic Caucus responded with a sharp critique of their own.
“Those five women deserved more,” the post said. “They deserved to be protected. They deserved for laws to be in place to ensure they made it back home tonight.”
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Credit: Nathan Posner for the AJC
Credit: Nathan Posner for the AJC
MORE REACTION. Our colleague Riley Bunch rounded up more reaction from Georgia leaders, with nearly all Democrats calling for new gun safety measures, while Republicans mostly refrained from commenting on policy at all.
U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath, who lives in Marietta and who lost her son to gun violence, said that the country’s constant string of mass shootings will continue if Congress doesn’t act.
“Our nation is under siege from gun violence,” she tweeted. “It will not end until we find the courage to act. Our `leaders’ who refuse to act are complicit.”
U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams, said late Thursday that Democrats in Congress are ready to act.
“Democrats remain ready and waiting to work with Republicans in passing common sense gun safety legislation once the GOP decides to stop putting the gun lobby ahead of Georgians’ safety,” she said in a statement.
Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, a Republican from Jackson, wrote, “Acts like these will not be tolerated and this suspect will be brought to justice. My prayers are with the victims, their loved ones and all who have been impacted.”
Other Republicans, including U.S. Reps. Rich McCormick and Buddy Carter and Attorney General Chris Carr, issued similar statements that focused on praising the quick response from law enforcement and the medical community.
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TODAY IN WASHINGTON:
- The U.S. Senate has confirmation votes scheduled on what is likely members’ last work day of the week.
- The Senate Budget Committee will hold a hearing on House Republicans’ legislation that lifts the debt ceiling while also requiring cuts to the federal budget.
- President Joe Biden has no public events scheduled.
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Credit: Jason Getz/AJC
Credit: Jason Getz/AJC
THE KEMP CASE. Republicans looking to avoid a third round of having former President Donald Trump as the GOP presidential nominee in 2024 are still looking for a viable alternative.
Mike Murphy, a former top campaign operative for the late Sen. John McCain, likes Gov. Brian Kemp’s chances, especially in early states like Iowa and New Hampshire. He made his case on social media yesterday.
“Kemp can win IA; like Bush in 2000 he’s a gov, not DC. And very comfortable with base GOP voters. Evangelical friendly but attractive to regulars. A winner. Best in field at handling Trump. Win IA, win NH. Trump melts. $$$ would move from DeSantis to Kemp if launches well.”
Murphy almost makes it sound easy — except for the fact that Kemp has said he’s not running for president.
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Credit: Hyosub Shin/AJC
Credit: Hyosub Shin/AJC
HERSCHEL BUCKS. A billionaire thought he was donating $535,200 to Herschel Walker’s U.S. Senate campaign, but the money went to a private company that Walker owns instead, according to a new report from The Daily Beast.
The article raises questions about whether the erroneous donation, which Republican high roller Dennis Washington’s team tried to rectify, may have seriously violated campaign finance or wire fraud laws.
As part of the report, the Daily Beast published emails showing Walker personally soliciting Washington for donations himself and directing him to wire the money to an account for HR Talent, a firm owned by Walker. The messages also appear to show Washington’s staff later trying to have the money redirected to 34N22, the super PAC supporting Walker instead.
Federal elections records show that the money never ended up at the Super PAC, nor any other known Walker campaign accounts, but it is possible the money was returned to Washington, according to the report.
An attorney for Walker did not respond to a request for comment or clarification from the AJC.
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PROGRAMMING NOTE. The Dog of the Day feature will return Friday.
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AS ALWAYS, Jolt readers are some of our favorite tipsters. Send your best scoop, gossip and insider info to patricia.murphy@ajc.com, tia.mitchell@ajc.com and greg.bluestein@ajc.com.
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