Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Thursday that many Senate Democrats skipped the FBI’s classified briefing on Wednesday about the Orlando shooting attack that killed dozens, and instead chose to participate in a “filibuster” over gun control.
“Senate Republicans attended and asked serious questions,” McConnell said on the Senate floor. “A rather significant group of Senate Democrats skipped it, skipped the briefing altogether for a campaign talkathon out here on the Senate floor, which also prevented us from going forward on the bill.”
McConnell said the Democrats’ decision to participate in “endless partisan campaigning” is what is stopping the Senate from making any progress on legislation to balance security with people’s Second Amendment rights.
“Our responsibility in the Senate is to make a choice,” he said. “Work on serious solutions to prevent terrorist attacks, or use the Senate as a campaign studio.”
Senate Democrats used their filibuster to talk for nearly 15 hours about the need to make it harder for terror suspects to own a gun. Democrats want a ban, while Republicans say people need to have a way to challenge their placement on federal terrorist lists, or else they would be deprived of their due process rights.
But it’s not clear any progress was made in trying to negotiate a middle ground. McConnell said senators should support Sen. John Cornyn’s proposal to allow the government to block gun purchases, but also let people challenge federal authorities if they appear on a list — a proposal Democrats have opposed.
“Of course, no one wants terrorists to be able to buy guns,” he said. “So if Democrats are actually serious about getting a solution on that issue, not just making a political talking point, they’ll join with us to support Sen. Cornyn’s Shield Act.”
“It would give the Justice Department the ability to prevent known or suspected terrorists from purchasing firearms,” he said. “It will protect the constitutional rights of all Americans.”
Senators told the Washington Examiner on Wednesday that FBI Direcor James Comey said he wasn’t sure any legislation would have stopped the Orlando attack.
