Articles
Democrats raise pressure on McConnell to tackle gun reform
Washington,
August 13, 2019
Tags:
Gun Violence
The Hill |
A handful of House Democrats returned to Washington on Tuesday to press House Republicans to tackle gun control immediately, and to accuse Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) of single-handedly blocking tougher laws at the expense of public safety. Democrats have long sought legislation to expand background checks before gun sales, which passed through the House in February, and they're hoping the public outcry surrounding shootings in Texas and Ohio this month will compel Senate Republicans to consider their bill. "So far this year more than 9,000 Americans ... have been killed by gun violence — including those killed in more than 250 mass shootings. ... How many Americans will lose their lives, or their loved ones, to random gun violence before the United States Senate takes action?" House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said during a rare recess news conference in the Capitol. "We know exactly why he isn't here. He's waiting for the outrage to die down, for the headlines to change, [for] the people to turn the page and think about something else," said Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.). "But as he delays or waits for people to lose interest, 100 Americans are dying every day to gun violence." |