Chris Murphy has long been one of the most vocal gun control advocates in Congress, trying to forge consensus on an issue that has been difficult to agree on.
The senator fought to tighten gun laws after 26 people, including 20 children, were killed in a mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
Murphy knew he needed a new approach to get anything passed in the Senate.
According to The New York Times, the senator kept the math in his mind and didn't push for an assault weapons ban or extensive background checks.
He told the newspaper that he had a clear idea of what he could get.
John Cornyn of Texas, a conservative who would not have accepted a broad assault weapons ban and other sweeping restrictions, said the bipartisan negotiators truly wanted to advance legislation that could pass the upper chamber.
One way to do things around here is to either get a result or make a political statement, he told The Times. The Democrats wanted a result and we wanted a result, so we came up with this.
Murphy reached out to other Republicans who had been involved in gun reform discussions.
Murphy reached out to Sinema, who has resisted calls to abolish the filibuster and has stymied some of the president's biggest domestic agenda items.
Sinema remarked in the press that she wanted to work with members of both parties to write a bill to address the issue of gun violence, especially as it related to schools, so Murphy sent her a text to see if she was interested in the bipartisan talks.
She said that she was interested.
Do you think you're serious? According to the report, Murphy replied.
Sinema said that she was on board with the talks.
The Senate passed a bill in June that provided funding for mental health services, school security, and crisis intervention programs.
The legislation was signed by Biden on Saturday.
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