Family members of past mass shootings victims push for gun control

World Today

Family members of past mass shootings victims push for gun control

On Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., family members of victims of past mass shootings are pushing for tighter gun control regulations.

CCTV America’s Jim Spellman reports.

“I wish I could say I’m surprised that we’re here again, but sadly I’m not,” Tina Meins, whose father was killed in the San Bernadino shooting, said. “And we will continue to be here again and again if our elected officials fail to take action that prevents dangerous and hateful people from getting their hands on a deadly weapon. It’s time to disarm hate.”

Pushing for a vote on gun control measures, Senator Chris Murphy, D-Conn., staged a 15 hour filibuster — a procedural move to temporarily stop Senate business.

His move may have worked. With the country still reeling from the Orlando shooting, Republican leaders appear ready to schedule a vote on measures to block those on terror watch lists from buying guns. Republicans fear the proposals could be too restrictive and are working on competing legislation.

“As we look at how to proceed, we also want to make sure that we’re not infringing upon people’s legitimate constitutional rights,” House Speaker Paul Ryan said. “That’s important. We also want to make sure that someone who’s not supposed to get a gun doesn’t get a gun.”

Democrats also hope to vote on a proposal to close the so-called “Gun Show Loophole” that allows some gun sales to happen without background checks. Even if the Democrats get a vote, the measures face an uphill climb for passage.