Democratic Sen. Doug Jones (Ala.) on Wednesday used his first speech from the Senate floor to urge passage of a "comprehensive" bill on gun control and background checks.

"It's time ... that we have a serious, pragmatic and practical discussion, not a debate or a negotiation, but a dialogue on the steps that we can take to reduce the harm caused by gun violence in this country," he said.

He added that lawmakers should "work toward a comprehensive bill that includes ideas we should be able to agree on."

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Jones's speech came days before a massive gun control rally will be held in downtown Washington, D.C. The event was planned after 17 people were killed in a school shooting last month in Parkland, Fla.

Jones backed a slate of ideas during his speech, including expanded background checks for buying a gun and raising the age for buying long guns to 21.

A Democrat hailing from the deeply red state of Alabama, Jones detailed his family's own history with guns and hunting.

He also criticized both sides of the gun debate, saying they should "dial down the rhetoric."

Jones said members who want to ban specific weapons should "focus instead on efforts to keep those weapons and others out of the hands of those who would do us harm. You can't simply demonize the NRA and pro-gun groups."

But Jones also knocked the idea of arming teachers, something that has been backed by the White House.

"We also need to get past the idea that more guns in society will make us all safer. ... Simply having more good guys with guns is not the solution," he said.

Jones's comments come as Congress's gun control debate has largely stalemated.

Though Congress is expected to include a narrow background check records bill in this week's mammoth government funding bill, Democrats have demanded more sweeping actions.

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerRepublican senator says plans to confirm justice before election 'completely consistent with the precedent' Video of Lindsey Graham arguing against nominating a Supreme Court justice in an election year goes viral Graham signals support for confirming a Supreme Court nominee this year MORE (D-N.Y.) previously pledged that Democrats would try to force floor action once Congress returns from a two-week recess next month.