Gun Control Measures Blocked by Senate Even After Orlando Shooting Massacre

By Julie Brown Patton
Gun Control
U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) (center L) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) (center R) depart the Senate floor directly after ending a 14-hour filibuster in the hopes of pressuring the U.S. Senate to action on gun control measures, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S. June 16, 2016.  REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

U.S. Senators on Monday rejected four partisan gun control measures offered within the week following the Orlando, Fla., shooting massacre at a gay nightclub. The rejected proposals included plans to keep guns out of the hands of people on terror watch lists.

Two Republican proposals were designed to increased funding for the national background check system, according to USA Today, and create a judicial review process to keep a person on a terror watch list from buying a gun. Two Democratic measures would have expanded background checks to private gun sales and allowed the Justice Department to ban gun sales to suspected terrorists. Some of the debates centered around people on no-fly lists versus those on watch lists.

Senators voted down similar bills in December after the shooting rampage in San Bernardino, Calif.

With 54 Republicans and 46 Democrats, and Independents who caucus with them, any successful bid to toughen gun laws would need bipartisan support to get to the 60-vote threshold.

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said the two GOP-backed measures sponsored by Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, are the answers.

"No one wants a terrorist to be able to buy guns or explosives. No one," McConnell said. "Instead of using this as an opportunity to push a partisan agenda or craft the next 30-second campaign ad, colleagues like Sen. Cornyn and Sen. Grassley are pursuing real solutions that can help keep Americans safer from the threat of terrorism."

Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., called the Republican measures "political stunts" and said they are "meaningless in doing something to stop gun violence."

Ahead of the votes Monday, gun violence survivors made the rounds on Capitol Hill trying to persuade senators to vote for stricter laws, including Erica Lafferty, daughter of Sandy Hook Elementary principal Dawn Lafferty Hochsprung who was slain in 2012, and Colin Goddard, who was shot four times and survived the mass shooting at Virginia Tech in 2007.

Even if the Senate were to have struck a deal on this subject, it's unclear such a proposal would be able to get through the House, reports The Washington Post, because Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) was non-committal on the issue Thursday.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted last week found that 71 percent of Americans favor at least moderate regulations and restrictions on gun sales. That compared with 60 percent in late 2013 and late 2014.

Senior Senate aides on Monday left open the possibility of other votes later in the week on unspecified gun control proposals.

  • [Exclusive Interview] A revelation within the brink of life and death — Meg Leung’s mission in Christian art

    Meg Leung (梁麗橋), an artist with a lifelong love for watercolor painting, sees her art as more than a means of expressing her inner world; it is a bridge connecting her to God. Her artistic journey has revealed God’s perfect plan and inspired her to communicate the power of faith through her wor

  • Transgenderism a fundamental human right? Hong Kong public disagrees, survey finds

    A 2024 survey from the Society for Truth and Light (明光社)'s Center for Life and Ethics Research reveals that respondents from various backgrounds prioritize personal safety and fairness when it comes to transgender issues. When laws involve moral judgments, most respondents believe courts should not make the decisions. The study also indicates that religious believers share similar views with non-religious respondents, reflecting that many churches may rarely address gender topics in depth.

  • Discipleship and Evangelism: Walking the Path of the Great Commission

    Like an ever-flowing spring, the gospel refreshes dry, parched lands and needs our unwavering passion and steadfast faith to transform lives and bring renewal. The "flame in our hearts" calls Christians to keep their faith and love for the Lord ablaze, representing the work and power of the Holy Spirit, driving us to proclaim God's glory boldly.

  • North America Chinese Evangelical Seminary year-end report highlights significant ministry progress

    As the year draws to a close, Rev. James Liu, President of the Chinese Evangelical Seminary North America (CESNA), reflected on the seminary’s remarkable growth and ministry development over the past year. Dedicated to providing theological education to Chinese Christians, CESNA continues to uphold its mission to remain faithful to the gospel and nurture believers. This year’s achievements span academic, ministerial, and outreach endeavors, fostering spiritual growth and advancing missionary wo