Democrats in Congress are calling for more gun control legislation following the tragic mass shooting in Boulder, Colo., with some prominent members of the party calling to push legislation through by ending the Senate filibuster.
The nation was horrified Monday after 10 people, including veteran police officer Eric Talley, were killed in a mass shooting at a grocery store in Boulder. The suspect of the shooting was captured by police and led out of the crime scene with a bloodied leg.
Following the tragedy, many prominent Democrats called for more gun control legislation online, with several eyeing an end to the filibuster to push measures through.
"It is long past time for those with the power to fight this epidemic of gun violence to do so. It will take time to root out the disaffection, racism and misogyny that fuels so many of these senseless acts of violence," former President Barack Obama said in a statement Tuesday.
"But we can make it harder for those with hate in their hearts to buy weapons of war. We can overcome opposition by cowardly politicians and the pressure of a gun lobby that opposes any limit on the ability of anyone to assemble an arsenal. We can, and we must," Obama added.
...Calls for gun control legislation came from House leadership as well, with Assistant Speaker of the House Katherine Clark, D-Mass., joining the other members of her party.
"No more obstruction. No more excuses," wrote Clark. "#GunControlNow."
Clark has also joined the progressive wing of her party in demanding the Senate ditch the filibuster, claiming the practice "continues to stand in the way of progress and justice."
"Eliminate it. Now," wrote Clark in February. "We can’t wait."
...Gun control advocacy group Brady released a statement following the tragedy, with President Kris Brown saying the organization was calling on the Senate to pass H.R. 8 and other gun control legislation.
"Brady calls on the Senate to immediately take up and vote on H.R. 8 and H.R. 1446, bills passed by the House with bipartisan support less than two weeks ago," said Brown. "Leader Schumer has already pledged to bring a vote on background checks to the floor and the Senate should do so without delay."
Democrats have made gun control a top issue since taking control of both chambers of Congress and the White House in 2020.
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, introduced a bill to the House that would create a national firearm registry and require individuals to go through a psychological evaluation and be 21 years old to apply for a firearms license.
Attorney General Merrick Garland also signaled in February that he would back President Biden’s gun control policies.
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Original story here.