The U.S. Senate rejected four proposals to limit guns on Monday in the wake of an shooting at an Orlando nightclub which left 50 people dead and dozens injured.
Four proposals -- two put forth by Democrats and two by Republicans -- would have expanded background checks on gun buyers and limit the sales of firearms to people on the terrorism watch list.
The Democratic legislation was brought by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Chris Murphy, D-Conn. Murphy led a lengthy 15-hour long filibuster to force Republicans to hold a vote on the measures.
Murphy’s amendment would change the gun show loophole and would require universal background checks for gun buyers, including those who wanted to buy guns on the internet. His amendment would have also expanded the federal background database.
Feinstein’s proposal would have stopped anyone on who has been on the federal terrorist watchlist in the prior five years from buying a firearm.
The Republican measures, sponsored by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas and Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, would have required law enforcement to be notified when anyone who is on the terrorist watch list tried to buy a weapon from a licensed gun dealer.
Grassley’s legislation would have expanded funding for federal background checks and would have also added specific definitions on what it means to be found “mentally incompetent.”
If the purchaser has been on the terrorist watch list for five years, the sale could be blocked for up to 72 hours while the attorney general investigates.
All four measures failed to receive the 60 needed votes out of the 100 votes to pass.
The proposals failed at a 47-53 vote split, mostly on partisan lines.
Republicans generally voted against the measures.
National Rifle Association vice president and CEO Wayne LaPierre said the government needs to focus on ISIS and not on gun control.
“We need to look at all our vulnerabilities and we need to harden, because they’re coming and they’re going to try to kill us and we need to be prepared,” LaPierre said. “And this president, by diverting the attention to the gun control movement, that’s not going to solve the problem.”
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
