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| Senate fails to pass new gun control restrictions in wake of Orlando shooting | Senate fails to pass new gun control restrictions in wake of Orlando shooting |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The US Senate failed to advance new restrictions aimed at curtailing gun violence on Monday, as lawmakers voted down four separate measures just one week after a terrorist attack in Orlando marked the deadliest mass shooting in the nation’s history. | The US Senate failed to advance new restrictions aimed at curtailing gun violence on Monday, as lawmakers voted down four separate measures just one week after a terrorist attack in Orlando marked the deadliest mass shooting in the nation’s history. |
| Democrats and Republicans had put forth competing amendments to both strengthen background checks and prevent suspected terrorists from purchasing firearms. But all four bills fell short of the 60 votes needed to clear a procedural hurdle in the Senate, in a near replica of a vote held in December when a pair of shooters killed 14 people and wounded 22 more in San Bernardino, California. | Democrats and Republicans had put forth competing amendments to both strengthen background checks and prevent suspected terrorists from purchasing firearms. But all four bills fell short of the 60 votes needed to clear a procedural hurdle in the Senate, in a near replica of a vote held in December when a pair of shooters killed 14 people and wounded 22 more in San Bernardino, California. |
| The series of votes on Monday evening came in the aftermath of 12 June massacre at an LGBT nightclub in Orlando, Florida, which left 49 people dead and another 53 injured. Senate Democrats had secured the votes following a 15-hour filibuster last week demanding action against gun violence, a politically vexing issue that has yet to produce any major legislative breakthroughs in more than two decades. | The series of votes on Monday evening came in the aftermath of 12 June massacre at an LGBT nightclub in Orlando, Florida, which left 49 people dead and another 53 injured. Senate Democrats had secured the votes following a 15-hour filibuster last week demanding action against gun violence, a politically vexing issue that has yet to produce any major legislative breakthroughs in more than two decades. |
| The chamber first voted on dueling proposals related to the federal background checks systems. | The chamber first voted on dueling proposals related to the federal background checks systems. |
| The Republican amendment, which aimed to pour more resources into prosecuting violations of the current background checks system but did not expand it in any way, fell short by a vote of 53-47. The Democratic alternative, which would have required background checks for all gun sales except for gifts and loans between immediate family members, failed by a vote of 44-56. | The Republican amendment, which aimed to pour more resources into prosecuting violations of the current background checks system but did not expand it in any way, fell short by a vote of 53-47. The Democratic alternative, which would have required background checks for all gun sales except for gifts and loans between immediate family members, failed by a vote of 44-56. |
| A subsequent series of votes failed on the issue of prohibiting access to firearms for individuals on the FBI’s terror watch list, but lawmakers have indicated a compromise might still be feasible in the coming days. Susan Collins, a Republican senator from Maine, was expected to unveil a proposal seeking middle ground between the two parties as early as Tuesday. | A subsequent series of votes failed on the issue of prohibiting access to firearms for individuals on the FBI’s terror watch list, but lawmakers have indicated a compromise might still be feasible in the coming days. Susan Collins, a Republican senator from Maine, was expected to unveil a proposal seeking middle ground between the two parties as early as Tuesday. |
| A proposal by Democrats that would have barred the sale of firearms to all individuals on the terror watch list failed to advance in a 47-53 vote. The Republican amendment, which would have enabled the justice department to delay an individual on the FBI terror watch list from completing a gun purchase for a period of 72 hours, was voted down 53-47. The Republican plan, backed by the NRA, would have required the attorney general to prove to a judge that there was probable cause for the firearm sale to be denied. | A proposal by Democrats that would have barred the sale of firearms to all individuals on the terror watch list failed to advance in a 47-53 vote. The Republican amendment, which would have enabled the justice department to delay an individual on the FBI terror watch list from completing a gun purchase for a period of 72 hours, was voted down 53-47. The Republican plan, backed by the NRA, would have required the attorney general to prove to a judge that there was probable cause for the firearm sale to be denied. |
| The FBI has said Orlando gunman Omar Mateen was on a terrorist watchlist from 2013 to 2014. | The FBI has said Orlando gunman Omar Mateen was on a terrorist watchlist from 2013 to 2014. |
| Democrats immediately blasted a host of Senate Republicans facing tough re-election battles for voting along party lines on both the background checks and terror watch list proposals, including: Senators Rob Portman of Ohio, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania. | Democrats immediately blasted a host of Senate Republicans facing tough re-election battles for voting along party lines on both the background checks and terror watch list proposals, including: Senators Rob Portman of Ohio, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania. |
| Just two of the vulnerable incumbents, Senators Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire and Mark Kirk of Illinois, voted for the Democratic plan on the terror watch list. Kirk also voted for the Democrats’ universal background checks bill, a sign of how contentious the debate is for the senator whose constituents include the residents of Chicago inflicted by one of the worst gun violence epidemics in the nation. | Just two of the vulnerable incumbents, Senators Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire and Mark Kirk of Illinois, voted for the Democratic plan on the terror watch list. Kirk also voted for the Democrats’ universal background checks bill, a sign of how contentious the debate is for the senator whose constituents include the residents of Chicago inflicted by one of the worst gun violence epidemics in the nation. |
| Addressing reporters after the vote, a group of Democrats decried what they characterized as the NRA’s “vice-like grip”over members of Congress. | |
| “I’m mortified by today’s vote, but I’m not surprised by it,” said Chris Murphy, the senator who became a leading advocate of gun control after the 2012 Sandy Hook elementary school shooting in his home state of Connecticut. | |
| “I don’t think democracy allows for this Congress to be so out of step with the American public for very long.” | |
| As the vote occurred, family members of gun violence victims looked on from the gallery within the Senate chamber – some of them weeping as it became clear not a single bill would pass muster. | |
| The scene echoed the aftermath of the Sandy Hook massacre, when parents of some of the slain children watched in disbelief as the Senate failed to pass legislation to expand background checks. | |
| Appearing alongside fellow Democrats after the vote, Florida senator Bill Nelson questioned how he would face the victims still reeling from the Orlando shooting. | |
| “What am I going to tell 49 grieving families?” Nelson asked. “What I am going to tell the families of those that are still in the hospital fighting for their lives?” | |
| Earlier on Monday Democrats called the Republican proposals “political stunts” aimed to divert attention away from more meaningful legislation. | |
| “My Republican colleagues are again stuck in the same rut, giving in to the demands of the NRA,” Harry Reid, the Democratic minority leader, said in remarks on the Senate floor. | “My Republican colleagues are again stuck in the same rut, giving in to the demands of the NRA,” Harry Reid, the Democratic minority leader, said in remarks on the Senate floor. |
| Monday’s votes marked the third time in recent years, he added, “that Senate Republicans have protected the gun lobby, even as their own constituents have been gunned down in cold blood”. | Monday’s votes marked the third time in recent years, he added, “that Senate Republicans have protected the gun lobby, even as their own constituents have been gunned down in cold blood”. |
| “Senate Republicans should be embarrassed. But they’re not, because the NRA is happy,” Reid said. | “Senate Republicans should be embarrassed. But they’re not, because the NRA is happy,” Reid said. |