Democrats filibuster to force gun control legislation

UPDATE: Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., ended his marathon filibuster at 2:11 a.m., citing a Republican leadership agreement to allow votes on background checks and preventing persons on terrorism watch lists from purchasing firearms. The measures face long odds without a deal with Republicans, but Murphy said considering them would be enough.

“We’ve gotten to a place where we’re going to get votes on these important amendments,” he said. “With deep gratitude to all of those who have endured this very, very late night, I yield the floor.”

Murphy’s talk-a-thon lasted almost 15 hours, making it the ninth-longest floor speech in Senate history.

OUR EARLIER REPORT (12:18 a.m.): WASHINGTON—Democrats brought the floor of the U.S. Senate to a screeching halt Wednesday night, staging a filibuster to force action on gun control legislation three days after the worst mass shooting in U.S. history.

“Our inaction has made us complicit in these murders,” said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., the leader of the filibuster. “I am standing up to say, we have had enough. We will not tolerate inaction any longer.”

Murphy and his Democratic colleagues have refused to yield the Senate floor since 11:21 a.m. Wednesday, claiming they will not be silenced until lawmakers get serious about gun control measures.

During the filibuster, Murphy listed off mass shootings in recent years, saying it’s imperative that the United States expand background checks for gun purchasers, especially those who have appeared on terror watch lists. Murphy got emotional speaking about the 2012 shooting in his home state, where a shooter slaughtered 26 people, including 20 young children, at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

“I can’t tell you how hard it is to look into the eyes of the families of those little boys and girls who were killed in Sandy Hook and tell them that almost four years later, we’ve done nothing, nothing at all to reduce the likelihood that that will happen again to another family,” Murphy said from the Senate floor.

For years, Democrats, including President Barack Obama, have argued for more limits on the sale of guns, particularly large-capacity and semi-automatic rifles.

Wednesday’s filibuster came on the heels of renewed outcry after a gunman struck a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla.

Omar Mateen, 29, was on the FBI’s watch list and legally bought a handgun and a Sig Sauer MCX rifle, which he used to kill 49 people and injure 53 others. Before the attack, Mateen pledged allegiance to Islamic State

Other like-minded senators—Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)—joined Murphy to push forward legislation that would implement universal background checks and prohibit those on the federal government’s no-fly list from purchasing firearms, which they believe will put a stop to other mass shootings.

None of the Democrats’ gun control measures have much hope in a Congress controlled by Republicans, but according to Politico, senators from both parties—John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.)—met to find some sort of common ground.

“This is a lot more nuanced than some people appreciate,” Cornyn told Politico. “We’re trying.”

But Feinstein wasn’t as optimistic, telling reporters, “I don’t think that’s going to work out.”

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., criticized Murphy’s actions, even though he has said in the past his colleagues may be open to certain aspects of gun control legislation. But he said Murphy’s approach is not the way to move forward and prohibits other important pieces of legislation.

McConnell spokesperson Don Stewart told USA Today, “Sen. Murphy’s effort today prevents the Senate from processing any amendments, including amendments he supports, as well as efforts proposed by Republicans to help prevent terrorist attacks here at home.”

Meanwhile, as the clock ticked past midnight and into Thursday morning, Murphy and his Democratic colleagues remained on the Senate floor.