Other Democratic senators are expected to come to the floor for the filibuster and continue the push for action on guns. “Sen. Murphy and Senate Democrats are holding the floor because they will not accept inaction or half measures in the face of continued slaughter”, Chris Harris, a spokesman for Murphy said, according to Huffington Post. He said he believed the Congressional body could unite on that issue and that CT, the state of the Sandy Hook shooting, had had enough of inaction. “Second, in order to make that protection meaningful, you also need to make sure that whenever a would-be shooter buys a gun, he goes through a background check”, he said.
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Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., joined at right by Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nev., criticizes Republican lawmakers for being too tied to the NRA and the gun lobby, during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, June 14, 2016.
Sens. John Cornyn, R-Tex., and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., are reportedly exploring a possible deal to prevent individuals on the FBI’s terrorist watch list from purchasing guns, but an agreement on expanding background checks is likely to be more elusive. Murphy is launching a filibuster and demanding a vote on gun control measures.
What happened in Orlando, the deadliest mass shooting in USA history, is “sadly just a preview of coming attractions” unless the Senate acts, Markey said. The group wields significant power in Congress.
In an interview with Politico, Cornyn argued that the filibuster is just “filling the dead air” while the two parties negotiate.
Trump told a crowd in Atlanta Wednesday: ‘I’m gonna save your 2nd Amendment, okay?’ Trump tweeted that he would meet with the head of the NRA about ‘not allowing people on the terrorist watch list, or the no fly list, to buy guns’.
While on the floor, Murphy said that 244 people on the terrorist watch list tried buying a firearm in 2015, and 223 of them (around 90 percent) succeeded.
“If they have something that’s decent we’ll work with them”, he said, but added that “this is not the end” of the issue for Democrats.
It is not the first time that Toomey, who ran unopposed in the May primary, has bucked hardline GOP stance on gun control. Toomey said in a brief speech on the Senate floor that he thinks that the two sides can find compromise.
“We are here today to say enough”, Booker said after he was recognized by Sen.
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“Sen. Murphy’s effort today prevents the Senate from processing any amendments, including amendments he supports, as well as efforts proposed by Republicans to help prevent terrorist attacks here at home”, Stewart said.
