Senate shoots down four gun control amendments

WASHINGTON—The Senate rejected four gun control measures Monday night in the wake of the Orlando shooting. The proposals—two from Democrats, two from Republicans—offered ways to prevent terrorists from purchasing guns and to expand background check databases but failed to garner the 60 bipartisan votes necessary to pass a bill.

Throughout the debate, senators continued to point fingers across the aisle, with Democrats demanding action and Republicans calling for accuracy.

“Well, here we go again,” said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., in a news conference after the votes. “Another mass shooting—this time the largest in history. Forty-nine dead, 53 injured. Another chance for Congress to take meaningful action. Another missed opportunity.”

Feinstein sponsored one of the four amendments that is commonly known as the “no fly, no buy” bill. The proposal allows the attorney general to prohibit “probable” terrorists on or off the “no fly” list from purchasing a gun. The bill, first proposed in December, met a 45-53 vote last night with support from two Republicans: Sens. Mark Kirk of Illinois and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire.

“We all agree that terrorists should not be able to purchase a weapon,” Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said during the floor debate. “That is not up for debate, and anybody who suggests that it is is simply misleading you. The question before us is whether we’re going to do so in a way that’s constitutional.”

Feinstein and fellow Californian, Sen. Barbara Boxer, emphasized how the bill could halt the 30,000 domestic gun violence deaths per year and blamed Republicans for stalling the vote.

Cornyn responded with a proposal that would prevent terrorists from buying guns after they are arrested—based on substantial evidence. When a suspected terrorist attempts to make a gun purchase under Cornyn’s amendment, the attorney general can halt the transaction for 72 hours and bring evidence into court to prohibit any future purchase.

Cornyn said Democrats wanted to remove the tools used in gun violence from terrorists but his amendment could cure the cause. The bill captured a 53-47 vote with two cross-party supporters.

“Terrorists should not have guns,” Cornyn said. “The only difference between the senator from California’s amendment and mine is that once the gun purchase was stopped under her amendment, the bad guy walks away.”

Dueling background check initiatives weighing the expansion and precision of the National Criminal Instant Background Check System (NICS) also ended in a stalemate.

“If we actually had a list that contained only actual terrorists, I would gladly support an effort to not only prevent them from acquiring firearms, but also to detain and bring them to justice as quickly as possible,” said Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa. “What we really have are these flawed watch lists that contain errors and are at the same time both under- and over-inclusive.”

Grassley proposed an amendment that redefines mental illness records so people mistakenly noted as having an illness can prove their fitness before authorities ban them from buying guns. Grassley argued those changes, along with increased funding to the NICS, should hone the list of people barred from gun purchases. His proposal fell 53-47.

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., who filibustered on gun control for 15 hours Wednesday, charged that Grassley’s plan would take people off the background check list when most senators are trying to up the ante.

Murphy’s bill expanded the background check list—particularly for buyers at gun shows and over the internet. Kirk, acknowledging the rough election ahead of him in a predominately blue state, was the sole Republican supporter for Murphy’s proposal, which fell 44-56.

Senators will vote today on an amendment proposed by Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, a moderate lawmaker. The Collins amendment would prevent gun purchases by suspects on the “no fly” and “selectee” list.