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Senate to vote (no) on gun control measures Senate to vote (no) on gun control measures
(about 5 hours later)
Just over a week after the massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, the Senate is set to vote on four gun control amendments. With Democrats and Republicans entrenched in their respective corners, however, none are expected to pass.Just over a week after the massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, the Senate is set to vote on four gun control amendments. With Democrats and Republicans entrenched in their respective corners, however, none are expected to pass.
All four proposals are offered as amendments to a Justice Department spending bill set to hit the Senate floor on Monday.All four proposals are offered as amendments to a Justice Department spending bill set to hit the Senate floor on Monday.
Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-California) sponsored an amendment that would allow the Department of Justice to deny a gun sale to anyone if the agency has a “reasonable belief” that the buyer is likely to engage in terrorism.Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-California) sponsored an amendment that would allow the Department of Justice to deny a gun sale to anyone if the agency has a “reasonable belief” that the buyer is likely to engage in terrorism.
UPDATE: The motion to require background checks for purchases at gun shows failed in the US Senate on Monday in a 44-56 vote. As a result, the gun show loophole remains open.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) is offering a competing amendment, which would require that law enforcement be alerted when anyone on the terror watch list attempts to buy a gun from a licensed dealer. If anyone who has been investigated for terrorism within the last five years tries to purchase a firearm, the DoJ would be able to block a sale for up to 72 hours while prosecutors go to court to show probable cause to permanently block the transaction. The National Rifle Association has offered its support for this measure.Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) is offering a competing amendment, which would require that law enforcement be alerted when anyone on the terror watch list attempts to buy a gun from a licensed dealer. If anyone who has been investigated for terrorism within the last five years tries to purchase a firearm, the DoJ would be able to block a sale for up to 72 hours while prosecutors go to court to show probable cause to permanently block the transaction. The National Rifle Association has offered its support for this measure.
An amendment proposed by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) tackles the issue of mental health and buying guns. His measure would clarify current language regarding mental health and make it more difficult to add mentally ill people to the background check database, which would give those people suspected of having serious mental illness a process to challenge that determination. The amendment would also boost funds for the National Instant Criminal Background Check System and ensure that the correct records are uploaded into the system in a timely manner.An amendment proposed by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) tackles the issue of mental health and buying guns. His measure would clarify current language regarding mental health and make it more difficult to add mentally ill people to the background check database, which would give those people suspected of having serious mental illness a process to challenge that determination. The amendment would also boost funds for the National Instant Criminal Background Check System and ensure that the correct records are uploaded into the system in a timely manner.
Finally. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut) sponsored an amendment that would close the so-called “gun show loophole” by requiring every gun purchaser to undergo a background check, even during private sales or at gun shows. The measure would also expand the background check database.Finally. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut) sponsored an amendment that would close the so-called “gun show loophole” by requiring every gun purchaser to undergo a background check, even during private sales or at gun shows. The measure would also expand the background check database.
Even Murphy admitted that it's highly unlikely any of the amendments would pass because they would need 60 votes to overcome a potential GOP filibuster.  Instead, he focused on the public’s response to his nearly 15-hour filibuster last Wednesday and Thursday.Even Murphy admitted that it's highly unlikely any of the amendments would pass because they would need 60 votes to overcome a potential GOP filibuster.  Instead, he focused on the public’s response to his nearly 15-hour filibuster last Wednesday and Thursday.
"I admit that the background checks bill is going to be tough to get 60 votes on, but we still have hope that we can get Republicans to support the bill, stopping terrorists from getting weapons," Murphy told ABC's ‘This Week’. "But in the final analysis, what may be most important is that our filibuster helped galvanize an entire country around this issue.""I admit that the background checks bill is going to be tough to get 60 votes on, but we still have hope that we can get Republicans to support the bill, stopping terrorists from getting weapons," Murphy told ABC's ‘This Week’. "But in the final analysis, what may be most important is that our filibuster helped galvanize an entire country around this issue."
"It wasn't just that 40 senators came to the floor and supported my effort to get these votes but there were millions of people all across the country who rose up and who joined our effort," he said on Sunday."It wasn't just that 40 senators came to the floor and supported my effort to get these votes but there were millions of people all across the country who rose up and who joined our effort," he said on Sunday.
Bills that would have closed the gun show loophole failed after the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting in Newtown, Connecticut and after the 2015 terrorist attack in San Bernardino, California. The NRA is opposed to requiring private sellers to be licensed, which would require them to perform background checks on any sales ‒ even if a person only ever sells one firearm. The guns rights group is also opposed to cracking down on internet gun sales, saying that it would be a violation of both the First and Second Amendments, according to NBC News.Bills that would have closed the gun show loophole failed after the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting in Newtown, Connecticut and after the 2015 terrorist attack in San Bernardino, California. The NRA is opposed to requiring private sellers to be licensed, which would require them to perform background checks on any sales ‒ even if a person only ever sells one firearm. The guns rights group is also opposed to cracking down on internet gun sales, saying that it would be a violation of both the First and Second Amendments, according to NBC News.
If any of the amendments get any aisle-crossover, it might be Cornyn’s, which the support of both the NRA and Attorney General Loretta Lynch. She told ‘Fox News Sunday’ that such an amendment would give the federal government the ability to stop a sale to somebody on the terror watch list. Its drawback, she noted, is that it doesn’t give the government the flexibility and authority it needs to protect the classified information it would use to deny a sale if potential buyers exercise their constitutional rights to an appeal.If any of the amendments get any aisle-crossover, it might be Cornyn’s, which the support of both the NRA and Attorney General Loretta Lynch. She told ‘Fox News Sunday’ that such an amendment would give the federal government the ability to stop a sale to somebody on the terror watch list. Its drawback, she noted, is that it doesn’t give the government the flexibility and authority it needs to protect the classified information it would use to deny a sale if potential buyers exercise their constitutional rights to an appeal.
Cornyn’s amendment also has the implied support of presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.Cornyn’s amendment also has the implied support of presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.
Another potential gun control option may be in the pipelines. Maine Sen. Susan Collins, a moderate Republican with a history of compromise and who is not up for reelection in 2016, is working with both her fellow party members and some Democrats to write a bill that would prevent people on the federal no-fly list from purchasing guns, Fox News reported. However, she does not have the GOP’s blessing, so it’s unclear if her bill would get a floor vote.Another potential gun control option may be in the pipelines. Maine Sen. Susan Collins, a moderate Republican with a history of compromise and who is not up for reelection in 2016, is working with both her fellow party members and some Democrats to write a bill that would prevent people on the federal no-fly list from purchasing guns, Fox News reported. However, she does not have the GOP’s blessing, so it’s unclear if her bill would get a floor vote.
On the House side of Capitol Hill, Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) told NBC’s ‘Meet the Press’ that he’s in no rush to vote on gun control.On the House side of Capitol Hill, Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) told NBC’s ‘Meet the Press’ that he’s in no rush to vote on gun control.
“We’re going to take a deep breath and make sure that this is done correctly, so that the policy of making sure that the authorities know, and have time to respond to if a person who was on a terrorist watch list is trying to buy a gun, that they’re notified,” Ryan said Sunday.“We’re going to take a deep breath and make sure that this is done correctly, so that the policy of making sure that the authorities know, and have time to respond to if a person who was on a terrorist watch list is trying to buy a gun, that they’re notified,” Ryan said Sunday.