McConnell quashes Senate effort on guns
Source: The Hill
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday cut the legs out from a bipartisan effort to keep suspected terrorists from buying guns.
In doing so, McConnell, a master of the Senates arcane rules, provided cover for vulnerable Republicans who wanted to be seen as supporting the effort, but did not want to cross the National Rifle Association.
The scenario that Sen. McConnell set up was textbook McConnell, said Brian Darling, a former Senate Republican aide.
McConnell had promised a vote this week to Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) on her bipartisan measure barring people on two key terrorist watch lists from buying guns or explosives. But what he scheduled was not what she had in mind.
-snip-
Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/284711-mcconnell-quashes-senate-effort-on-guns
Ilsa
(61,675 posts)forest444
(5,902 posts)If I were President Obama, I'd look Bitchy Mitchy right in the eye and say:
Two words, Mitch: Ping May.
ailsagirl
(22,842 posts)Those people have no heart, no conscience. Sickening. And here they hold positions of such authority.
EL34x4
(2,003 posts)to Washington to pass gun control laws.
Agnosticsherbet
(11,619 posts)80% of Americans approved of the bill (even NRA members), but Republicans are scared shitless of the NRA Lobby arm and gun manufacturers.
Clearly, they are the best Republicans the NRA Lobbyist could buy.
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(107,112 posts)Stonepounder
(4,033 posts)90%+ approve of keeping guns out of suspected terrorists. Republicans in both the House and Senate refuse to vote on it. The same people who want to keep guns out of the hands of terrorists turn around and vote for the same dip-shits over and over and over again.
Go figure.
Indydem
(2,642 posts)People have Constitutional RIGHTS. Maybe you've heard of them.
Just because "90%" support something (a dubious claim, at best) doesn't mean we do it when it violates the constitution and people's rights.
Over our history there have been plenty of majorities who wanted something that was just plain wrong. It is the courageous who stands up and shouts "we will not violate the rights of others because it is popular in the moment!"
I'm a Democrat because our party supports freedom and rights. Why are you?
Stonepounder
(4,033 posts)Which rights do tightening controls on guns violate? We have laws mandating background checks on people wanting to buy guns. But...if you go to a gun show or go online or onto Craigs List and buy a gun there is no background check required. So one proposed modification is to require all gun sales to be subject to a background check. Which of my freedoms and rights does this violate? We have a no-fly list and a terrorist watch list. Seems to me that if you are on one of those lists, your background check should come up flagged. The proposed law would halt the sale. You could appeal and the government would then have 20 days to schedule a hearing where they would have to show cause as to why you couldn't buy a gun. Again, which of my freedoms or rights does this violate?
Additionally, we have a system of checks and balances. Congress passes a law. The President can sign it or veto it. If it becomes law and someone feels he has been harmed by the law and that the law is unconstitutional he can avail himself of the courts. But you know all this. How long must we abide these mass shootings before Congress moves to try and reduce them? How long must I worry about being safe in my person when I go to Denny's or the local pub or take a night school class or go to a movie?
And P.S., don't you dare question my liberal credentials. I marched for Civil Rights in the 50's, worked voter registration drives in the South in the 60's. I protested the Vietnam War and stared into the barrels of National Guard rifles when they were called out and my university was shut down after Kent State. I marched and attended rallies for the ERA. And on and on.
Indydem
(2,642 posts)90% can support "keeping guns out of [the hands of] suspected terrorists" but that doesn't make it right.
Especially when the proposed method of doing this (and the version President Obama supported at his PBS town hall) uses a secret list to deny Americans their rights with no notice, with only a method of appeal after the fact. We have Due Process rights, and so far the options being proposed only give a glancing notice to them.
Anyone can be added to these secret lists out of political malice or opportunity. We don't use secret, arbitrary lists to establish who does or does not get to have rights.
McConnell and the rest of the Republicans are being, in your words, "courageous"? I highly doubt it. No, they're just bought and paid for NRA toadies.
yallerdawg
(16,104 posts)Due process for terrorists and suspected terrorists. After all, we're not at war, are we?
Cornyn had pushed to require a court to issue an order within three days to block the sale and required probable cause that the person was a terrorist -- a standard critics said would be so high that the person could be arrested anyway.
For all those who argued Senate Democrats passed up a "good" amendment Monday - this is your 'due process' hero:
"I think we need to be engaged in something more constructive that would have actually stopped shooters like the Orlando shooter," Cornyn told reporters.
http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-06-23/gun-curb-compromise-loses-steam-in-senate-even-with-gop-support
glennward
(989 posts)yallerdawg
(16,104 posts)From Bloomberg article - unexpected twists:
"People who were on the cusp now have another place to go," Collins said before the vote. Eight Republicans joined Democrats in backing her proposal, and she said about 10 additional Republicans had been on the verge of backing her plan, enough to potentially get it to the 60-vote threshold. She also said the Democratic takeover of the House floor hurt because it made the issue partisan.
SDJay
(1,089 posts)instead of protect Americans. OK, then.
DemoTex
(25,371 posts)History will not treat McConnell well, but what the fuck does he care. He's got his. Mitch is a despicable old man, but Karma still has time to kick in. And I still have a positive balance in my Schadenfreude account. I'd love to cash it out on Mitch.
pansypoo53219
(20,908 posts)ManiacJoe
(10,136 posts)than accept the crap currently being peddled.
Everyone remembers the Patriot Act, right?
Response to DonViejo (Original post)
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