Posted on 04/11/2013 8:54:43 AM PDT by EXCH54FE
The Senate cleared the way on Thursday for an emotional, weeks-long debate on proposals to curb gun violence, rejecting an effort by conservative Republicans to block consideration of gun-control legislation prompted by December's Connecticut elementary school massacre.
The Senate voted 68-31 to open debate on President Barack Obama's proposals to expand background checks for gun buyers, tighten restrictions on gun trafficking and increase funding for school security.
The legislation still faces many hurdles, including a weeks-long debate in the Senate featuring many amendments that could make the bill unacceptable to senators who now support it.
No major gun legislation has passed the Congress since 1994.
"It is a really important start," Democratic Senator Christopher Murphy of Connecticut said before the vote, displaying photos of some of the victims of the December 14 massacre of 20 children and six adults at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut.
That agreement to expand criminal background checks of gun buyers to include commercial sales made at gun shows and online was expected to boost bipartisan Senate support for the measure.
The expanded background checks, a provision that polls show has the support of up to 90 percent of Americans, will be the first amendment offered in debate and appears to be Obama's best hope for achieving meaningful gun-control legislation.
But Obama is unlikely to get some elements of gun control that he has advocated, including a ban on rapid-firing "assault" weapons like the one used in Connecticut and limits on the capacity of ammunition magazines. Amendments to add those provisions to the bill being considered by the Senate appear to have a slim chance of winning on the Senate floor.
Many Republicans and some Democrats have objected to the gun-control proposals as an infringement on their constitutional right to own guns.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
They call themselves Republicans.
They are helping to destroy our country and have already destroyed the Republican party.
McStupid thinks that everything the Democrats do is fine because they are in the majority.
Democrats don’t even have to bother to show up They just vote party.Not one of those a-holes has a mind of their own.
Especially those two dipsticks from my state of Maryland.
First they came for my Guns.
Then they came for my Books.
Then they came for my Voice.
Then they came for my GOD.
Then they took my LIFE!!
MOLON LABE!!!
There is a town in Georgia supposedly that has ‘mandated gun ownership’ and was encouraging, and was a state we were looking at to move to as it was one of the ‘most free states’ (top 5) in the US right now- but now you say your senators voted to proceed?
Proud to see that Arkansas’ Mark Pryor (D) voted against.
Really disappointed that so many who are allegedly on “our” side, openly betrayed the Constitution.
Look for him to cave on immigration also.
[[Then they came for my GOD.]]
They’ve already come for our God- They’ve kicked God out and invited Satan in which is why they are able to do all the other violations without beign opposed-
I voted for democrats? News tro me
I can’t wait to hear why Coburn voted aye when Inhofe voted no. Coburn is planing on introducing his own version, I know but it will get shot down. He is smart enough to know that!
[[America is so freaking screwed.]]
We have been screwed for a long time now- ever sicne Ginsburg and ilk began legislatign from the bench- and especially now that traitor John roberts gave the left the green light to violate our consitutional rights by proclaiming “The supreme court does not have an obligation to protect the peopel from bad choices- if you don’t liek your chocie you are then free to vote them out of office in the next election (although I’m not usre how law abiding citizsens who are arrested for some ilaegal law concocted by a teayrannical govenrment can vote from prison- perhapsd roberts can explain that to us? 4 years is a hell of a long time to wait while being opprerssed by a tryanicle govenremnt hell bwent on violating our constitutional rights
Reactionary laws rushed through always bode ill for the people at large. The tyrants must disarm the people before they can do what they want without fear.
According to the freaking news accounts, it was a &%$#%&&&^&^ PISTOL that was used, not a rifle of any kind. The shooting war is about ready to start - these idiots are begging for it.
How about any requirement imposed on the buying and selling of firearms also applies to voting. Picture I.D. background check, etc. How long would the Dems stand for that.
Everyone has their position. The time has long since gone when a senator can be convinced in honest debate - they are all bought off in one way or another.
They might as well vote on the bill now and get it over with... then we'll know who the enemy is.
Why can’t we get an enterprising Congresscreep to offer that amendment?
Rand Paul, where are you?
Love your idea.
I’m going to post a vanity, and see if we can attract attention.
Now.
Yeah, Hoeven voted with the liberals. I’m disgusted. Heitkamp did, too, but she’s a Dem the East side voted in and frankly, despite all her BS, I expected that (D’oh, she’s a Dem.).
“to curb gun violence” Rooters!
To infringe upon the 2nd!
COLD. DEAD. HANDS!
Molon baby ...
Dingy Harry gave him permission to vote against it only because it made no difference.
The idiots are too busy believing in their own importance to recognize reality.
In Canada, when long gun registration was required, it is estimated over half the firearms covered were not registered, and many of the registrations generated were full of erroneous or just plain bogus data.
Canada has no Second Amendment to rally behind.
Do they really think they will get even half of the tens of millions of arms they target?
Seriously.
Make criminals of us all, and we no longer have anything to lose. They don't want to pull the cork out of that bottle unless they want to destroy America.
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