Dems take over floor to protest Senate inaction on gun control
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and other Democrats have taken over the Senate floor to call for tougher gun control laws and specifically action on keeping people on terrorist watchlists from buying firearms.
“I’m prepared to stand on this floor and talk about the need for this body to come together on keeping terrorists away from getting guns … for, frankly, as long as I can, because I know that we can come together on this issue,” Murphy said in beginning the filibuster on Wednesday.
Murphy began speaking at about 11:20 a.m., and the filibuster was still going at 2 p.m.
Other Democrats who joined him included Sens. Richard Blumenthal (Conn.), Joe Manchin(W.Va.), Patrick Leahy (Vt.), Al Franken(Minn.), Cory Booker (N.J.), Bill Nelson (Fla.), Dick Durbin (Ill.), Charles Schumer (N.Y.), Ben Cardin (Md.) and Ed Markey (Mass.).
It also won support from presumptive Democatic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and her rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).
The Senate is currently considering an appropriations bill for the Commerce and Justice departments and science programs. Though no votes are currently scheduled, the senators are blocking any amendments to the bill.
“I don’t think we should proceed with debate on amendments to this bill until we have figured out a way to come together,” Murphy said, referring to the spending bill.
The Democrats are also technically blocking Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) from ending debate on the legislation, though a spokesman shot down any speculation that the Republican leader would have tried to wrap up work on the spending bill Wednesday.
Democrats have given no indication how long they plan to hold the Senate floor. Chris Harris, a spokesman for Murphy, said Democrats launched the talkathon because the senator will no longer accept “inaction or half measures in the face of continued slaughter.”
The effort comes three days after the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. A gunman armed with a Sig Sauer MCX rifle and a handgun on early Sunday killed 49 people at an Orlando nightclub.
Murphy is well-known for his support for tougher gun control laws. One of America’s most shocking gun crimes occurred in his home state in Newtown, where 20 children and six adults were shot to death at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
“I can’t tell you how hard it is to look into the eyes of the families of those little boys and girls who were killed in Sandy Hook and tell them that almost four years later we’ve done nothing, nothing at all,” Murphy said.
June 15, 2016
- 5:04PM EDT
Senators Speak After Briefing on Mass Shooting Investigation - 5:15PM EDT
Senator Richard Blumenthal (D) Speaks to Reporters About Gun Control Debate - 5:24PM EDT
Senator Dianne Feinstein (D) Speaks to Reporters About Gun Control Debate - 5:40PM EDT
Senator Tom Carper (D) Briefs Reporters on Orlando Mass Shooting Investigation
June 16, 2016
- 11:06 AM EDT
Gun Violence Victims’ Relatives Join Senate Democrats to Push for Reforms
A group of Senate Democrats held a news conference to talk about their legislation to expand gun controls.
>>>WH WeThePeople Petition: Ban the AR-15 from Civilian Ownership<<<
Family of AR-15 inventor: The weapon wasn’t meant for civilians
June 16, 2016, 08:53 am By Rebecca Savransky – TheHill
The family of the man who invented the AR-15 rifle says the weapon was never meant to be used by civilians.
“Our father, Eugene Stoner, designed the AR-15 and subsequent M16 as a military weapon to give our soldiers an advantage over the AK-47,” the Stoner family told NBC News late Wednesday.
“He died long before any mass shootings occurred. But we do think he would have been horrified and sickened as anyone, if not more by these events.”
The family said Stoner would have agreed the weapon is a tool of war. Stoner was an “avid sportsman, hunter and skeet shooter” but never used the AR-15 for sport, nor did he keep it for personal defense.
“After many conversations with him, we feel his intent was that he designed it as a military rifle,” his family said.
After Stoner died, the semi-automatic version of the AR-15 began gaining popularity with civilians, NBC reported.
