Gun control bill clears its first hurdle in Senate
WASHINGTON (AP) - Congress’ most serious gun-control effort in years cleared its first hurdle Thursday as the Senate pushed past conservatives’ attempted blockade under the teary gaze of families of victims of December’s Connecticut school shootings.
The bipartisan 68-31 vote rebuffed an effort to keep debate from even starting, giving an early victory - and perhaps political momentum - to President Barack Obama and his gun control allies. Four months after 20 first-graders and six staffers at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown were killed, relatives watching the vote from a gallery overlooking the Senate floor dabbed at tears and clasped hands, some seeming to pray.
Even so, few supporters of the legislation are confident of victory. Several weeks of emotional, unpredictable Senate debate lie ahead, and a mix of gun-rights amendments, opposition from the National Rifle Association and skepticism from House Republican leaders leave big questions about what will emerge from Congress. Foes of the proposed new restrictions say they would penalize law-abiding citizens and do nothing to curb gun violence.
“The hard work starts now,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., who brought the legislation to the floor for debate. SOURCE
Both Texas Senators voted AGAINST this debacle. How did YOUR Senators vote?
Wyoming stood tall I am proud to say!
Matt Blunt voted against it but Clair McCaskill, a Democrat, joined 16 Republicans on their knees and voted for it.
I always though Tom Coburn of OK was suppose to be a strong conservative…that’s what I get for thinking.
Coburn fooled a lot of people on this one Bob…
We’ve been sold out. I bet you this will pass the House. Obama will get what ever he wants.
You might be right… If the House goes for this crap, it’s all over but the crying..
As expected Mazie Hirono & Brian Schatz voted for this. I contacted Hirono a while ago and she let me know how proud she was to have supported an assault rifle ban. Loser states have loser representation. Anyone considering moving to Hawaii better re-think.
Once upon a time I thought about living there, in a wish I had for some idyllic retirement setting, warm breezes, gentle surf and cold drinks..
The reality kicked back in…
Both Merkley and Wyden voted for this and no surprises there. With the bills for more gun control being discussed right now in Oregon and these two traitors voting in lock step with all Obama wants, I just wish I could leave this rotten state of progressive nightmares.
Wow. It’s almost like Arizona’s “representatives” forgot all about the second amendment. McRino continues his stampede towards democratland, and now he’s dragging Flake along with him.
Crap, crap, crap.
McRINO was expected, he’s a lost cause, but Flake really surprised me on this one..
It seems Flake does what McCain tells him to do. Just like Gillibrand in NY does what Chuckie Schumer tells her to do.
James Inhofe voted against it and Tom Coburn voted for it. Here’s my thinking about Coburn’s vote, for what it’s worth. I have seen him cast votes like this for a number of years, mainly because he wants the debate to take place. He probably feels sure that the debate will not result in the passage of the legislation and I would be willing to bet he will vote against the passage of the final bill. Keep in mind that I have no insider knowledge of Coburn’s thought process and these are just my own observations. I have been wrong many times before and I could be wrong about this.
I hope you’re right but why even take the chance.
That’s how I would feel about it, to be sure. I am not against debate on any given issue, but this debate will lead us nowhere but someplace bad. It would be best to cut it off at the ground and stop it in its tracks.
These dumb ass politicos in Congress are playing with fire and seem not to know it. The more infringements they place on the 2nd Amendment the closer this nation gets to civil war. Appears they have no fear of “We The People”. They should.