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| Democrats Lament Inability to Pass Gun Restrictions: ‘We Are Stuck’ | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| WASHINGTON — Congressional Democrats, frustrated by years of futility on gun safety legislation, called on Republicans leaders on Tuesday to create a special committee to investigate gun violence in America — and asked them to withdraw a measure that would deregulate the sale of gun silencers. | WASHINGTON — Congressional Democrats, frustrated by years of futility on gun safety legislation, called on Republicans leaders on Tuesday to create a special committee to investigate gun violence in America — and asked them to withdraw a measure that would deregulate the sale of gun silencers. |
| “We are stuck,’’ said Representative Linda Sanchez of California, the vice chairwoman of the House Democratic caucus. “We have asked time and time again of our Republican counterparts to please engage in this discussion of how do we stop gun violence, and they are completely unwilling to do anything to help us out on that issue.’’ | “We are stuck,’’ said Representative Linda Sanchez of California, the vice chairwoman of the House Democratic caucus. “We have asked time and time again of our Republican counterparts to please engage in this discussion of how do we stop gun violence, and they are completely unwilling to do anything to help us out on that issue.’’ |
| Ms. Sanchez made her remarks as lawmakers in both parties grappled with Sunday night’s massacre at a country music festival in Las Vegas, which killed at least 59 people and injured more than 500 others. While Democrats spoke of legislative solutions, Republicans — following the lead of President Trump — tried to steer the debate toward lauding police and emergency medical workers. | Ms. Sanchez made her remarks as lawmakers in both parties grappled with Sunday night’s massacre at a country music festival in Las Vegas, which killed at least 59 people and injured more than 500 others. While Democrats spoke of legislative solutions, Republicans — following the lead of President Trump — tried to steer the debate toward lauding police and emergency medical workers. |
| In a speech on the Senate floor, Senator Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader, called on the president to bring the leaders of Congress together, “and let both sides know he is ready and willing to address this issue of gun safety head-on.” | In a speech on the Senate floor, Senator Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader, called on the president to bring the leaders of Congress together, “and let both sides know he is ready and willing to address this issue of gun safety head-on.” |
| Mr. Trump has praised the swiftness of the Las Vegas law enforcement response to the gunman and on Tuesday said that it was “in many ways, a miracle.” During his weekly news conference, Speaker Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin echoed the president, saying that as America grieves, it should also focus on the goodness of those who responded and helped save lives on Sunday. | Mr. Trump has praised the swiftness of the Las Vegas law enforcement response to the gunman and on Tuesday said that it was “in many ways, a miracle.” During his weekly news conference, Speaker Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin echoed the president, saying that as America grieves, it should also focus on the goodness of those who responded and helped save lives on Sunday. |
| “We cannot let the actions of a single person define us as a country. It’s not who we are. Instead what truly defines us are the acts of heroism we witnessed after the tragedy,” Mr. Ryan said. | “We cannot let the actions of a single person define us as a country. It’s not who we are. Instead what truly defines us are the acts of heroism we witnessed after the tragedy,” Mr. Ryan said. |
| Mr. Ryan also said the House has no plans to vote on the so-called Hearing Protection Act, which would eliminate a $200 tax on firearm silencers, refund silencer-tax payments back to October of 2015, and ease registration requirements. | Mr. Ryan also said the House has no plans to vote on the so-called Hearing Protection Act, which would eliminate a $200 tax on firearm silencers, refund silencer-tax payments back to October of 2015, and ease registration requirements. |
| “That bill is not scheduled now,’’ he said. “I don’t know when it’s going to be scheduled.’’ | “That bill is not scheduled now,’’ he said. “I don’t know when it’s going to be scheduled.’’ |
| The House will vote Tuesday on legislation that would effectively ban abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy, saying fetuses can feel pain after that point. | The House will vote Tuesday on legislation that would effectively ban abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy, saying fetuses can feel pain after that point. |
| Democrats have for years been pushing what they call ‘‘common sense’’ gun restrictions that would require background checks for all gun purchases, including those at gun shows and from online sellers. Other proposals would limit the size of magazines used in semiautomatic weapons and bolster restrictions on gun purchases for people with mental illnesses or who have been flagged by federal law enforcement as potential terrorists. | Democrats have for years been pushing what they call ‘‘common sense’’ gun restrictions that would require background checks for all gun purchases, including those at gun shows and from online sellers. Other proposals would limit the size of magazines used in semiautomatic weapons and bolster restrictions on gun purchases for people with mental illnesses or who have been flagged by federal law enforcement as potential terrorists. |
| But those legislative efforts have failed time and time again — even when they have had Republican backers. | But those legislative efforts have failed time and time again — even when they have had Republican backers. |
| One Republican who has co-sponsored legislation to expand background checks, Representative Peter King of New York, sounded noncommittal about bringing back his bill, noting that the Las Vegas gunman had passed background checks. Mr. King said the subject of gun violence did not come up during the Republicans’ weekly closed-door caucus meeting. | One Republican who has co-sponsored legislation to expand background checks, Representative Peter King of New York, sounded noncommittal about bringing back his bill, noting that the Las Vegas gunman had passed background checks. Mr. King said the subject of gun violence did not come up during the Republicans’ weekly closed-door caucus meeting. |
| As to the Democrats’ proposal for a committee, Mr. King said, “Let’s wait.’’ | As to the Democrats’ proposal for a committee, Mr. King said, “Let’s wait.’’ |
| “To me its really wrong to be jumping out there trying to politicize a tragedy,’’ he said. ‘‘Let’s at least wait a few days and see what happens.’’ | “To me its really wrong to be jumping out there trying to politicize a tragedy,’’ he said. ‘‘Let’s at least wait a few days and see what happens.’’ |
| Some gun safety advocates acknowledged that expanding background checks would not have prevented the massacre in Las Vegas. Among them is Lori Hankey Haas, whose daughter was injured in the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007. | Some gun safety advocates acknowledged that expanding background checks would not have prevented the massacre in Las Vegas. Among them is Lori Hankey Haas, whose daughter was injured in the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007. |
| “Is there a single policy that would have prevented this particular mass shooting?” asked Ms. Haas, who is now the Virginia state director for the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, an advocacy group. “I doubt it seriously. But it doesn’t mean you don’t try.” | “Is there a single policy that would have prevented this particular mass shooting?” asked Ms. Haas, who is now the Virginia state director for the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, an advocacy group. “I doubt it seriously. But it doesn’t mean you don’t try.” |
| Inside the Capitol, a member of Congress who was nearly killed by a gunman, Representative Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the third-ranking House Republican, reappeared Tuesday at a House Republican leadership news conference. He said nothing about gun legislation. | Inside the Capitol, a member of Congress who was nearly killed by a gunman, Representative Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the third-ranking House Republican, reappeared Tuesday at a House Republican leadership news conference. He said nothing about gun legislation. |
| Outside the Capitol, though, calls for new gun restrictions were growing from those whose lives have been affected by gun violence. On Monday, a former member of Congress who was nearly killed by a gunman, Gabrielle Giffords, a Democrat from Arizona who was left brain damaged after a 2011 mass shooting, appeared on Capitol Hill with a pointed missive for her colleagues in Congress, which she delivered with a raised fist: “The nation is counting on you.” | Outside the Capitol, though, calls for new gun restrictions were growing from those whose lives have been affected by gun violence. On Monday, a former member of Congress who was nearly killed by a gunman, Gabrielle Giffords, a Democrat from Arizona who was left brain damaged after a 2011 mass shooting, appeared on Capitol Hill with a pointed missive for her colleagues in Congress, which she delivered with a raised fist: “The nation is counting on you.” |
| Ms. Giffords was joined by her husband, the former astronaut Mark Kelly; the two have founded Americans for Responsible Solutions, a nonprofit that advocates for gun safety laws. Mr. Kelly called on Congress to pass the background checks measure. | Ms. Giffords was joined by her husband, the former astronaut Mark Kelly; the two have founded Americans for Responsible Solutions, a nonprofit that advocates for gun safety laws. Mr. Kelly called on Congress to pass the background checks measure. |
| “What we’re hearing from the White House are thoughts and prayers,” Mr. Kelly said. “Thoughts and prayers are important; we send our thoughts and prayers too. But they are not enough. Your thoughts and prayers aren’t going to stop the next shooting.” | “What we’re hearing from the White House are thoughts and prayers,” Mr. Kelly said. “Thoughts and prayers are important; we send our thoughts and prayers too. But they are not enough. Your thoughts and prayers aren’t going to stop the next shooting.” |