Senate showdown vote on gun curbs set for Thursday

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By ALAN FRAM

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Senate's top Democrat has set Congress' first showdown vote for Thursday on President Barack Obama's gun control drive as a small but mounting number of Republicans appear willing to buck a conservative effort to prevent debate from even beginning.

Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada announced his decision Tuesday as the White House, congressional Democrats and relatives of the victims of December's mass shooting in Newtown, Conn., amped up pressure on GOP lawmakers to allow debate and votes on gun control proposals. Twenty first-graders and six educators were gunned down at Sandy Hook Elementary School, turning gun control into a top-tier national issue.

Meanwhile, participants from both parties said a bipartisan deal was imminent on expanding required federal background checks to gun purchases conducted at gun shows and online. The two chief negotiators, Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Patrick Toomey, R-Pa., were expected to announce the compromise on Wednesday.

Manchin and Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., told reporters late Tuesday that a deal was close. A Toomey aide said the same, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss closed-door bargaining.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20130410/DA5IBML80.html

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Neil Heslin, center, whose 6-year-old son Jesse was killed in the mass shooting in Newtown, Conn., arrives with other victims' families to meet privately on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, April 9, 2013, with Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn. Heslin gave moving testimony during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in February on the proposed assault weapons ban. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

[sheshe2]

1. It's time to stand up.

But Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, one of 13 conservative senators who signed a letter promising to try blocking debate, said the Senate bill puts "burdens on law abiding citizens exercising a constitutional right." He said none of its provisions "would have done anything to prevent the horrible tragedy of Sandy Hook."

Gee Ted, so sorry for the "burdens" this creates. Did you ever stop to think of the "burdens" on the parent's that had to bury their child. What a despicable man.

[davidpdx]

2. I totally and completely support the cause

but I believe it will go down like the Titanic. I think they will continue to buy time hoping people will forget the Sandy Hook shooting (as well as all the other ones).

Both of my senators support gun control. I'm not so sure about my representative. While he is a D, he's probably the most conservative D of the 5 in the Oregon House Delegation.