A vote on gun control legislation would be a major win for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Creative Commons/CAPAF)

The move means that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) will set a vote for Thursday, that includes a bevy of new gun control legislation such as stronger background checks, cracking down on illegal guns and improving safety at public schools across the country.

Despite opposition from some more conservative members of the Republican Party, key senators like John McCain of Arizona, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine and Tom Coburn of Oklahoma all said publicly they would at least allow debate on the legislation. 

Reid made an impassioned plea on the Senate floor to his fellow senators and the president on Tuesday, citing his father's suicide during his speech.

"And it's believed that alone has saved the lives of many people," Reid said. "Sometimes people in a fit of passion will purchase a handgun to do bad things with it, Mr. President, even as my dad did, killed himself. Waiting a few days helps."

If Reid maintains at least 60 votes, the vote can forward, but it remains a question whether the legislation will pass. Several Blue Dog Democrats, who tend to be more moderate than the rest of the party, are facing re-election next year. A vote for gun control legislation could come back to haunt those senators.

The changes are being opposed by the National Rifle Association, which released its own suggestions on gun control safety last week.

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