Background Checks Legislation Short Of 60 Votes In The Senate

[Purveyor]

By Agence France-Presse
Tuesday, April 16, 2013 17:08 EDT



The US Senate faces a showdown this week over gun rights, but even supporters of a contentious compromise on background checks conceded Tuesday that they are still short of the necessary votes.

President Barack Obama expressed optimism about the proposed bill and said it would be “unimaginable” if Congress defied strong public support for the measure, especially after the Newtown school massacre in December.

The chamber’s top Democrat Harry Reid insisted they had the momentum in the Senate to pass the legislation, which would expand background checks to all commercial firearms sales, including purchases made at gun shows and online.

A deal was being sought that would allow Reid to call for votes on several proposed amendments to the underlying gun bill, beginning with the background check measure as early as Wednesday, he said.

--CLIP
Supporters would need 60 votes in the 100-member chamber to overcome blocking tactics and ensure final passage. Democrats and independent allies hold 55 seats.

MORE...

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/04/16/background-checks-legislation-short-of-60-votes-in-the-senate/

[SoCalDem]

1. Are we surprised?

[NightWatcher]

2. I envy the countries that dissolve their representative bodies

and start over again. I'd love a new shot at staffing the senate and house.

[Purveyor]

4. +1 EOM

[Bryn]

9. How do we do this?

If possible? It does need cleaning...

[Cali_Democrat]

17. Many other industrialized countries have parliamentary systems

where parliament can be dissolved and new elections held. Think of a Parliament like our Congress.

How awesome would that be? Unfortunately it requires a change to the Constitution.

America now has an extremely feeble and broken government. It's totally deadlocked and frozen. That's why we got downgraded in 2011.

That's why I sort of chuckle when anyone says America is the greatest country the world has even known.

[valerief]

3. Results are ricin reliable. nt

[Eleanors38]

5. Did this proposed legislation contain the provision the ACLU objected to?

I understand from previous posts that the new law would enable NICS test results of those not purchasing from a dealer to be kept longer by the government, and not be under the same regulation as those who currently purchase from FFLs, hence the ACLU objection.

[Earth_First]

6. On BACKGROUND CHECKS...

Not taking your ammunition or your weapons, not rounding up your grandfather's shotgun or your Bushmaster 'hunting' rifle...

On BACKGROUND CHECKS.

Holy.Shit.

[NutmegYankee]

7. Then keep debating it day after day!

Don't stop till the opposition is so tired of a "Ground Hog Day" style life that they vote to end debate and allow a normal vote.

[trof]

8. Our congress is broken.

And i don't think it can be fixed.
Not in my lifetime and probably not ever.

[derby378]

10. A pity - I actually support that compromise

Dealers, gun shows, online sales - all of them go through the NICS check. Father hands daughter her first .22LR - no need. This would have been good, rational progress.

Of course, we're all aware that even if it cleared the Senate, there's still the House to deal with.

[AndyA]

11. Congress just needs to decide which matters most: life or guns

It's really as simple as that. The right to live your life or the right to bear arms.

[Pullo]

12. Not looking good for Toomey-Manchin

Whip Count

I think Coburn's online, instant, free, and recordless background check proposal might be able to reach the 60 vote threshold.

[Demo_Chris]

13. It doesn't matter, it won't pass the house regardless. nt

[Purveyor]

14. You are absolutely correct, indeed. eom

[patrice]

15. You know? ANYONE could do a false flag in this situation & blame PO for a false flag. I think we

need to know VERY much more about HOW/WHY "our" senators make the votes they do in this kind of situation.

All of this points to corporate personhood.

[WCGreen]

16. We are surely dangling dangerously close to banana republic territory here...

Parsing out what is left of our democracy waiting for a dictator.

Remember twas the Roman Senate that was dysfunctional and impotent that let loose the 400 years of tyrants and megalomaniac strongmen.