The aftermath of the recent shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, has been a familiar one, as GOP politicians offer “thoughts and prayers” while paying lip service to the possibility of modest, common-sense gun reforms. But while the typical mass shooting is all too often followed by all rhetoric and no action, could El Paso and Dayton finally flip the script? Politico reports that more Republican lawmakers appear to be ramping up their support for background checks and red flag laws in the wake of the recent weekend of mass shootings, President Donald Trump has signaled his interest in these mild gun control moves, and a majority of lawmakers' Republican constituents now appear to be on board. “The proximity of the shootings, the Gilroy one … and then El Paso and Dayton, that has galvanized people,” Sen. Susan Collins told Politico. “We’re determined that we take something up.”

The idea that background checks and red flag laws could finally see their day on the Senate floor has seemed like more of an actual possibility in the wake of the recent shootings. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, facing the new monicker “Massacre Mitch” for refusing to take up gun control legislation, has said the measures will “lead the discussion” in upcoming gun reform talks, though he claimed calling senators back from their August recess to pass gun control legislation immediately would result in “people scoring points and nothing would happen.” And per Politico, at least some of McConnell's Republican caucus may be ready to take action. In addition to Collins, Sen. Mitt Romney said that he supports “enhancing existing background checks,” while Sen. Marco Rubio is supportive of red flag laws, which allow law enforcement to take firearms away from a gun owner if they're believed to be a threat to themselves or others. “My gut tells me that Leader McConnell wants to bring something to the floor for a vote,” Republican Sen. Mike Braun told Politico. “This is the moment. When you have two incidents like that in the same weekend, I think conservatives and Republicans lose in the long run if we don’t do something to change the dynamic. And I’m about as hard a Second Amendment guy as there is.”

Trump, too, has publicly supported the notion of taking up these select gun reforms. “Serious discussions are taking place between House and Senate leadership on meaningful Background Checks,” the president tweeted Friday. “Guns should not be placed in the hands of mentally ill or deranged people. ... Common sense things can be done that are good for everyone!” (A blatantly hypocritical statement, given that the president personally made it easier for people with mental illness to acquire guns by rolling back an Obama-era regulation.) Trump has also suggested that he can get support in the Senate, claiming that McConnell is “totally on board” with his plan. “He seems determined to do something and believes there is space to get something done this time around,” Sen. Lindsey Graham told the Washington Post. “The president has a pretty ­common-sense point of view. He’s never been a sports or gun enthusiast. But he is more determined than ever to do something on his watch.”

Republican senators in favor of the gun control measures have stressed the importance of having the president on their side in order to make the measures more palatable to their GOP colleagues. “It will require becoming a priority for the White House,” Rubio told Politico. “It’s tough to move on an issue as difficult and divisive as this is without executive engagement.” Collins, too, emphasized that Trump is “key on this.” “He does seem to be calling for some sort of background check tightening and also some sort of red flag bill,” Collins said. “Now obviously the details matter a great deal but if he advocates those two positions that will help us with members of the Republican Caucus.”