Preparations underway: Senate Democrats push for new gun control legislation
Politics
Preparations underway: Senate Democrats push for new gun control legislation
Senate Democrats are preparing a legislative push to curb guns, a week after a mass shooting at an Oregon community college refocused attention on the nation’s toll of firearms deaths. Republicans controlling Congress have shown scant interest in restricting guns and the Democratic effort has little chance of success, but their drive could keep the issue alive during next year’s elections.
[We] will be a rallying point for a public that is eager for congressional action.
Sens. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich. in a letter to fellow Democrats
Democrats said their effort would include broadening federal background checks — now required only for sales by federally licensed firearms dealers — to cover all purchases at gun shows and online. They also said they would seek to add all domestic abusers to the list of those prohibited from purchasing firearms. President Obama plans to travel to Roseburg, Ore., on Friday to meet victims’ families. As he has after several mass shootings, he has called on Congress to strengthen gun restrictions but expressed frustration with lawmakers’ inaction.
