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Democratic senators launch filibuster over gun control

Other Democratic senators are expected to come to the floor for the filibuster and continue the push for action on guns.
Sen. Chris Murphy (CNN)


(CNN) — Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy launched a filibuster Wednesday on the Senate floor, vowing to stay “for as long as I can” until Congress acts on gun control legislation.

The Connecticut Democrat, who represented the district that includes Newtown as a House member, said, “I live every single day with the memory of Sandy Hook” Elementary, where 20 children and six adults were gunned down in 2012.

His spokesman said Murphy will continue to “hold the floor to push for a vote on amendments to close the terror gap and expand background checks.”

“I am most of the time around here a team player but I’ve had enough,” Murphy said, noting that his move pushes off all other business on the Senate floor.

The filibuster follows the deadly shooting at an Orlando gay club which 50 people and injured dozens more. The gunman Omar Mateen was able to purchase weapons he used in the attack despite having previously been on an FBI terror watch list.

Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Pat Toomey, who is in a tight re-election race, is in talks with a gun control group, Everytown for Gun Safety, on a potential compromise bill addressing those on the terror watch list.

The group was founded by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a longtime proponent of expanded background checks and other measures aimed at reducing gun violence.

Other Democratic senators are expected to come to the floor for the filibuster and continue the push for action on guns.

“I am prepared to stand on the Senate floor and talk about the need to prevent gun violence for as long as I can. I’ve had #Enough,” Murphy tweeted shortly before taking the floor.

John Cornyn, the Senate’s No. 2 Republican, told CNN that he is working with California Democrat Dianne Feinstein on a compromise proposal to address the issue of preventing those posing a terror threat from buying guns.

“We’re working pretty feverishly,” Cornyn said. “It’s pretty clear Democrats aren’t going to let us do anything until we deal with this issue.”

Cornyn didn’t say when a deal could emerge, but said, “We’re trying to see if we can find common ground. We both believe that terrorists shouldn’t get guns.”

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