It has been almost 20 years since Congress has taken up the topic of gun control legislation.
As the new debate over gun control heats up, senior Senate aides on both sides of the issue laid out advocates’ plan to get their bill through the Senate.
Prospects for the gun control legislation weren't looking good until the recent Toomey/Manchin proposal.
The new Toomey/Manchin language will replace the old background-check language currently in the bill, and it will be championed as bipartisan.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will then call for a cloture vote on the legislation with the new language in place. He expects to get the votes he needs.
Reid will then bring up the highly controversial Assault Weapons Ban championed by Sen. Diane Finestein (D-CA).
A ban on high-capacity magazines will also be offered as an amendment.
Both of these amendments are expected to go down in flames. And Senate aides said that's by design on Reid's part.
By voting against these measures, conservative and moderate Democrats, like Sen. Mary Landrieu, will be able to position themselves as pro-gun.
Those votes are also designed to give cover to Montana Sen. Jon Tester, who hails from one of the most gun-friendly states in the country.
These members will be able to return home and say they voted against the most controversial aspects of the legislation.
Then, after covering for his members, Reid will bring the bill to the floor for final passage.
Meanwhile, the White House will run interference, building as much public support as it can for the bill.
Senate Republicans who oppose all new gun control legislation will be in a tough position.
The Senate will debate heavily, with Reid needing at least five Republican votes to pass the final version of the bill.
If Reid passes the bill, it will be by razor-thin margins. This is something the Senate has become accustomed to.
Of course, the bill will then head to the Republican-controlled House, where it will face clear challenges.
But no matter what the outcome, gun control will surely be one of the most heated political debates Washington has seen in a while.
