Obama on Senate gun vote: 'A shameful day' Gregory Korte and Catalina Camia, USA TODAY 5:58 p.m. EDT April 17, 2013 manchin-toomey
Senate rejects bipartisan amendment to expand background checks on gun purchases Several red-state Democrats up for re-election in 2014 voted against measure
WASHINGTON — An angry President Obama criticized a minority of the Senate on Wednesday who helped defeat a proposal to expand background checks on gun purchases, which was seen as the core of legislative efforts to curb massacres such as the one at a Connecticut school in December.
"All in all this was a pretty shameful day for Washington," Obama said in the Rose Garden, flanked by former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and the family of a child killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.
Just hours before, the Senate voted 54-46 to defeat an amendment by Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Pat Toomey, R-Pa. on tougher background checks. Sixty votes were necessary to get around a filibuster – a tall order because it meant drawing on Republican support to make up for losing majority-party Democrats.
FIRST TAKE: Obama may regret not pushing on guns
Three Democratic senators from red states who are up for re-election in 2014 -- Mark Pryor of Arkansas, Max Baucus of Montana, Mark Begich of Alaska -- voted against the background checks proposal. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota also voted "no," as did Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.
Four GOP senators -- Toomey, Mark Kirk of Illinois, Susan Collins of Maine and John McCain of Arizona -- crossed party lines to support the measure.
Reid's vote was procedural. It will allow him to bring up the background checks measure again if supporters believe they can get enough votes.
In a surprise, ailing Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., appeared in the chamber for the first time in weeks to cast an "aye" vote. He has been battling muscle weakness and fatigue, and came to the Senate floor in a wheelchair.
After the vote, the National Rifle Association called the background checks proposal "misguided."
"This amendment would have criminalized certain private transfers of firearms between honest citizens, requiring lifelong friends, neighbors and some family members to get federal government permission to exercise a fundamental right or face prosecution," said Chris W. Cox, the NRA's chief lobbyist. "As we have noted previously, expanding background checks, at gun shows or elsewhere, will not reduce violent crime or keep our kids safe in their schools."
In a sign of the importance of the gun debate, Vice President Biden presided over the chamber during the vote on background checks. In an online chat with mayors, he seemed to acknowledge it would be a long shot but vowed to keep pressing for gun control measures.
"I can assure you one thing: We're going to get this eventually," Biden said. "If we don't get it today, we'll get it eventually. I think the American people are way ahead of their elected officials."
Before the vote, Manchin pleaded with his colleagues to remember the 26 people who died Dec. 14 at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.
"If you want to remember those 20 babies -- beautiful children -- and the six brave teachers ... and you want to honor the most courageous family members I have ever met, please vote for this bill," he said.
The Senate will now take votes on other amendments, including one to ban assault weapons and limit the size of magazine clips, as well as a package of legislation addressing mental health issues.
A substitute plan by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, that would tighten the background check database but not expand the types of sales subject to it was defeated. A measure by Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, to toughen rules on gun trafficking was also rejected.
During Wednesday's debate, Manchin held up his NRA membership card in the Senate chamber and called out the gun lobby for "lies" about what his measure would do. Specifically, he said, the gun lobby had inaccurately claimed the amendment would criminalize the transfer of guns to friends and family members.
"Where I come from, West Virginia, I don't know how to put the words any plainer than this: That is a lie. That is simply a lie," he said. "It's not a universal background check."
The expanded background checks would have extended to purchases made at gun shows and on the Internet. Reid said Wednesday morning that the bill would not create a national registry of guns or gun owners and derided such claims as "nothing but shameful scare tactics."
Earlier in the day, a pro-gun rights group withdrew its support for the background checks proposal. The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms said it could no longer support the amendment because it did not have adequate provisions to make sure people could have their gun rights restored if, for example, a conviction were expunged.
I can see box stamping his feet yelling "this isn't fare" Screw any new laws, there are to many as it, if anything they should repeal and sunset certain gun laws. Shall not be infringed means just that.
"In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a Patriot."
I can see box stamping his feet yelling "this isn't fare" Screw any new laws, there are to many as it, if anything they should repeal and sunset certain gun laws. Shall not be infringed means just that.
90% of Americans support reasonable gun control laws. Like civil rights, EPA, Roe V Wade... this too will take time.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
90% of Americans support reasonable gun control laws. Like civil rights, EPA, Roe V Wade... this too will take time.
"In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a Patriot."
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
You folks on the lunatic left like to lie and distort things. The "big money" is not on the NRA-Pro 2nd Amendment side --- the actual fact is that just one person (the dictator of NYC) spent as much promoting the anti-2nd Amendment/"take away our Constitutional rights when it comes to guns" movement as the ENTIRE NRA did promoting the Pro-2nd Amendment/Defend Constitutional rights position.
The lunatic left throws that "big money" label around hypocritically -- for example TsiTsi Tkaczyk threw it around last year but was happy to have two NYC lunatic lefties write six figure checks to promote her election to the State Legislature. So who does she represent? Main street in her district or 5th Avenue in NYC ???
I have been researching the "money trail" into certain area legislators and representatives --- and it really makes you wonder who these pro-abortion, anti-religious liberty, anti-Bill of Rights (as it was originally intended) crowd really represent. One even received HUGE campaign contributions (double that received by his colleagues) from out of state sugar interests --- wonder what they want for that contribution???
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
The democrat party had much more money than the NRA. They spent $985 million on the presidential election. The NRA has 4.5 million active members. That's a drop in the bucket in comparison to democrat membership. The NRA receives $1.4 million in contributions and spent $2.9 million in lobbying. That's a fraction of 1% in comparison to the $985 million spent to get Obama elected.
The Democrat argument was WEAK. The gun grabber legislation passed in a few liberal states like NY, but imploded in the rest of the country. They tried to pass anti gun legislation on the premise of preventing another Sandy Hook. The American people weren't dumb enough to buy it.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Gallup: Only 4% of Americans Think Gun Control is an Important Problem April 16, 2013 By Michael James
A rack of AR-15 rifles stand to be individually packaged as workers move a pallet of rifles for shipment at the Stag Arms company in New Britain, Conn., Wednesday, April 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
(CNSNews.com) – Only 4 percent of Americans think guns and gun control are an important problem facing the country, according to Gallup, and far more Americans are concerned about the economy, unemployment and the federal debt.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Gallup: Only 4% of Americans Think Gun Control is an Important Problem April 16, 2013 A rack of AR-15 rifles stand to be individually packaged as workers move a pallet of rifles for shipment at the Stag Arms company in New Britain, Conn., Wednesday, April 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) (CNSNews.com) – Only 4 percent of Americans think guns and gun control are an important problem facing the country, according to Gallup, and far more Americans are concerned about the economy, unemployment and the federal debt. http://cnsnews.com/news/article/gallup-only-4-americans-think-gun-control-important-problem
Don't ya love Bumblers distortions???
Check out the FACTS from the Bumbler's own link:
The question: “What do you think is the most important problem facing the country today?” The Below issues are rated MORE IMPORTANT than Gun Control: Economy in general 24% Unemployment/Jobs 18% Dissatisfaction with Government 16% Federal budget deficit/Federal debt 11% Healthcare 6% Ethical/Moral/Family decline 5%
The Below issues are rated EQUAL TO GUN CONTROL: Immigration/Illegal aliens 4% Education 4% Guns/Gun control 4% Situation with North Korea 4%
The Below issues are rated LESS IMPORTANT than Gun Control Lack of Money 3% Welfare 2% Lack of respect for each other 2% Poverty/Hunger/Homelessness 2% Foreign aid/Focus overseas 2% Taxes 2%
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
appears that michelle ain't so proud of her america now.....eh?
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
appears that michelle ain't so proud of her america now.....eh?
They keep playing on their 90% BS, when the truth is guns and ammo are flying off the shelves. That's the only proof I need is what I can see with my own eyes.
"In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a Patriot."
Logged
Screw any new laws, there are to many as it, if anything they should repeal and sunset certain gun laws. Shall not be infringed means just that.
