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| Joe Biden and Eric Holder to push for 'commonsense' gun control reforms | Joe Biden and Eric Holder to push for 'commonsense' gun control reforms |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Barack Obama flew some of the relatives of the Newtown school shooting to Washington aboard Air Force One so they could lobby members of Congress on Tuesday as opposition hardens even to modest gun reforms. | Barack Obama flew some of the relatives of the Newtown school shooting to Washington aboard Air Force One so they could lobby members of Congress on Tuesday as opposition hardens even to modest gun reforms. |
| Combining with the push by families in Congress, vice-president Joe Biden and attorney general Eric Holder were scheduled to hold a press event at the White House alongside law enforcement officials from across the country to highlight gun reforms. | Combining with the push by families in Congress, vice-president Joe Biden and attorney general Eric Holder were scheduled to hold a press event at the White House alongside law enforcement officials from across the country to highlight gun reforms. |
| White House hopes for gun reform legislation are quickly receding in the face of more open Republican opposition. | White House hopes for gun reform legislation are quickly receding in the face of more open Republican opposition. |
| The Republican leader in the Senate, Mitch McConnell, on Monday vowed to join 13 other Republican senators to filibuster one of the few proposals that stands any realistic chance of getting through Congress, the expansion of background checks for gun buyers. The 13 say they are prepared to block even debate on a bill taking place. | The Republican leader in the Senate, Mitch McConnell, on Monday vowed to join 13 other Republican senators to filibuster one of the few proposals that stands any realistic chance of getting through Congress, the expansion of background checks for gun buyers. The 13 say they are prepared to block even debate on a bill taking place. |
| The Democratic leader in the Senate, Harry Reid, had said he hoped to announce this week draft proposals for a bill to be debated. But that may have to be pushed back because of the increasing Republican opposition. | The Democratic leader in the Senate, Harry Reid, had said he hoped to announce this week draft proposals for a bill to be debated. But that may have to be pushed back because of the increasing Republican opposition. |
| "Let us have a debate on violence in America," Reid said Monday. "Many Senate Republicans seem afraid to even engage in this debate – shame on them. | "Let us have a debate on violence in America," Reid said Monday. "Many Senate Republicans seem afraid to even engage in this debate – shame on them. |
| "The least Republicans owe the parents of 20 children murdered with guns at Sandy Hook elementary is a thoughtful debate about whether stronger gun laws could have saved their babies. The least Republicans owe them is a vote." | "The least Republicans owe the parents of 20 children murdered with guns at Sandy Hook elementary is a thoughtful debate about whether stronger gun laws could have saved their babies. The least Republicans owe them is a vote." |
| At the White House, Biden and Holder are to highlight what they portray as "commonsense measures to reduce gun violence". | At the White House, Biden and Holder are to highlight what they portray as "commonsense measures to reduce gun violence". |
| As part of the pressure being build up on Congress, Michelle Obama is to visit Chicago, which has one of the highest rates of gun-related violence in the country, to speak about protecting children and teenagers from gun violence. | As part of the pressure being build up on Congress, Michelle Obama is to visit Chicago, which has one of the highest rates of gun-related violence in the country, to speak about protecting children and teenagers from gun violence. |
| The president, in a speech in Connecticut on Monday evening, complained about reform being threatened by filibuster. "Some back in Washington are already floating the idea that they may use political stunts to prevent votes on any of these reforms," Obama said. | The president, in a speech in Connecticut on Monday evening, complained about reform being threatened by filibuster. "Some back in Washington are already floating the idea that they may use political stunts to prevent votes on any of these reforms," Obama said. |
| Referring to relatives of the Newtown shooting in the audience, he said: "This isn't about me. And it shouldn't be about politics. This is about doing the right thing for families like yours that have been torn apart by gun violence, and families going forward." | Referring to relatives of the Newtown shooting in the audience, he said: "This isn't about me. And it shouldn't be about politics. This is about doing the right thing for families like yours that have been torn apart by gun violence, and families going forward." |
| The threatened filibuster has divided Republicans, with senator John McCain saying there should at least be a debate. A Republican member of the House, Peter King, told CNN Tuesday he believed in background checks but even if that did not happen, there should at least be a debate. He added that to use Senate rules in this way was just wrong. | The threatened filibuster has divided Republicans, with senator John McCain saying there should at least be a debate. A Republican member of the House, Peter King, told CNN Tuesday he believed in background checks but even if that did not happen, there should at least be a debate. He added that to use Senate rules in this way was just wrong. |
| At least some of the 13 senators are concerned about facing primary challenges if they waver on gun laws. | At least some of the 13 senators are concerned about facing primary challenges if they waver on gun laws. |
| A spokesman for McConnell said on Monday the Republican leader opposed any motion to proceed to debate on a gun bill brought forward by Reid. | A spokesman for McConnell said on Monday the Republican leader opposed any motion to proceed to debate on a gun bill brought forward by Reid. |
| Reid has already acknowledged that a ban on semi-automatic weapons is not going to make it into a bill but he had hoped to include tougher sentences for gun trafficking and improved security at schools as well as universal background checks aimed at trying to stop guns being bought by dangerous people. | Reid has already acknowledged that a ban on semi-automatic weapons is not going to make it into a bill but he had hoped to include tougher sentences for gun trafficking and improved security at schools as well as universal background checks aimed at trying to stop guns being bought by dangerous people. |
| A proposal to reduce gun clips from around 30 bullets to 10 looks increasingly unlikely to be passed. | A proposal to reduce gun clips from around 30 bullets to 10 looks increasingly unlikely to be passed. |
| The Republican senator Pat Toomey is working with Democratic senator Joe Manchin trying to work out a compromise on background checks that will include criminal and mental health records. The checks are opposed by the National Rifle Association, as are all other changes except school security. | The Republican senator Pat Toomey is working with Democratic senator Joe Manchin trying to work out a compromise on background checks that will include criminal and mental health records. The checks are opposed by the National Rifle Association, as are all other changes except school security. |
| Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a pressure group driven by New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, is to set up new system to grade members of Congress based on their votes and statements on gun issues. It is a counter to the NRA, which grades members of Congress based on their opposition to gun reforms. | Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a pressure group driven by New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, is to set up new system to grade members of Congress based on their votes and statements on gun issues. It is a counter to the NRA, which grades members of Congress based on their opposition to gun reforms. |
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