GOP's McConnell signals support for gun reform bill Democrats say will save "thousands of lives"

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U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell signalled support for the proposed bipartisan gun violence bill, lending a major boost for the legislation which needs at least 60 votes in the evenly-divided chamber to pass.

McConnell said as long as the bill is not changed substantially from the original framework when its legislative text is written, he is "comfortable" in supporting it. The bipartisan group made up of 10 Democrats and 10 Republicans would help ensure the bill receives the votes needed to bypass the filibuster rule, if all 50 Democrats vote in favour. But McConnell's support could bring in added GOP votes, all but ensuring the bill's passage. It would still need to pass the U.S. House for it to then reach President Joe Biden's desk, who promised to sign it should it reach him.

Sen. Chris Murphy, the lead Democrat on the bill, said that he didn't expect major changes, stressing the group simply had to put the framework into legislative text, adding the bill would save "thousands of lives" in its current form.