GUN CONTROL - Total Blockage in U.S. Senate

Articles of Indictment by the Citizens of the United States

The accused are hereby indited on the charge of aiding and abetting the act or acts of murder of unarmed citizens of the United States of America, including children, during mas shootings.

• Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.)
• Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska)
• Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.)
• Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.)

All Republican Senators EXCEPT:

• Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine)
• Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.)
• Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.)
• Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.)

"Amendments for Background Checks and Assault Weapons Ban Fail in Senate" PBS Newshour 4/17/2013

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  Proposed amendments for assault weapons and high capacity magazine bans and universal background checks failed to pass the Senate. Kwame Holman reports.  Then, Gwen Ifill gets two perspectives on why Senate failed to pass the proposals from National Shooting Sports Foundation's Lawrence Keane and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.

"Gun Control Advocates Lose 'Round One'" by Terence Burlij and Christina Bellantoni, PBS Newshour 4/18/2013

Excerpt

"So all in all, this was a pretty shameful day for Washington," an incensed President Barack Obama declared Wednesday in the Rose Garden at the White House.  He was flanked by families who have lost loved ones in mass shootings and former Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who has become a leading figure in the gun control movement.

In a stinging setback for the president and advocates of tougher gun control measures, the U.S. Senate on Wednesday turned back proposals that would have expanded background checks for most gun sales, banned military-style assault weapons and limited the capacity of ammunition magazines.

The defeat of the provisions on assault weapons and magazines had been expected, but the prospects for enhancing background checks appeared to improve last week with the bipartisan compromise put forward by Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Pat Toomey, R-Pa.

The measure, designed to prevent violent criminals and the mentally ill from acquiring a firearm, would have required background checks at gun shows and for online sales.  It ultimately failed to clear the 60-vote threshold needed for passage, with a final tally of 54 yeas and 46 nays.

Four Democrats voted against the measure:  Mark Pryor of Arkansas, Mark Begich of Alaska, Max Baucus of Montana and Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota.  Pryor, Begich and Baucus all face difficult re-election battles in red states next year.

Three Republicans joined Toomey in supporting the amendment:  Susan Collins of Maine, Mark Kirk of Illinois and John McCain of Arizona.