WASHINGTON — Gun control is once again front and center on Capitol Hill after a gunman opened fire at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, killing 19 students and two teachers. 

“It is literally sickening to consider the innocent young lives that were stolen by this pointless, senseless brutality,” Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said on the Senate floor Wednesday.

While members of both political parties offered their condolences to the victims of the shooting, they disagree on what, if any, legislative action should be taken. 

Casey Burgat, a political science professor at George Washington University, said the back and forth between the two parties was “entirely predictable,” adding that similar situations have played out before. 

“You have Democrats coming in loud and angry saying that they have provisions and bills right now that have passed in the House,” Burgat said. “Then on the Republican side, we will see the common message that Democrats are politicizing tragedy.” 

In a statement Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY), who represents Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District, said just that: “Now is not the time to politicize this tragedy. Instead, we must unite in our grief and outrage, support a thorough investigation, establish the facts and seek justice.” 

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), who represents northern Kentucky and serves as chairman of the Second Amendment Caucus, made it clear he does not want stricter gun regulations. He actually wants more guns in the hands of more people.

“We should end so-called gun-free zones and allow sane adults to protect children from insane individuals,” Massie said. 

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the Democratic leader in the Senate, is calling for a vote on legislation that would expand background checks and lengthen the waiting period for gun purchases. The bill does not have the 60 votes it would need to overcome the filibuster. 

Rep. John Yarmuth (D-KY) is an advocate for stricter gun control laws. He said that although he hopes to see legislative change, he is not optimistic there will be any. 

“I thought after Sandy Hook it would be virtually impossible for there not to be action at the federal level,” Yarmuth said. “Since then, we have had multiple mass shootings.” 

Yarmuth wears an “F” pin on his suit jacket to highlight the F-rating he received from the National Rifle Association. 

“The people who are either fearful of or indebted to the NRA for campaign contributions now believe that they can continue to stonewall this kind of legislation because voters don’t hold them accountable,” Yarmuth said.