After previously banning 1,500 types of military-style assault weapons, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau introduced a new bill on Monday that would put a nationwide freeze on importing, buying or selling handguns.

Democrats are expressing cautious optimism and looking for a deal following the recent elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas -- suggesting that this might be the tragedy that breaks a decades-long stranglehold on new gun legislation and proves to Republicans "that the sky will not fall politically for them" if they vote to change gun laws, according to Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, the top Democratic negotiator.

Other Democrats are trying to capitalize on momentum even if they don't think a deal will solve the problem of gun violence.

President Joe Biden had kind words for the "rational Republicans" Sen. John Cornyn of Texas and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, noting "there's a recognition on their part they can't continue like this."

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, said on CNN on Sunday he senses "a different feeling among my colleagues after Uvalde."

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York has given a bipartisan group of lawmakers a week to make some headway.

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