During 2001 to 2013, 406,496 people died by firearms on U.S. soil. That's the number that everyone should keep in mind this afternoon, while the Senate votes on gun measures.
They will take four procedural votes on gun measures: A pair on background checks and a pair on the "terror gap," from both parties.
The first vote is Republican Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley's background check bill, followed by one on the issue from Democratic Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy. The next will be on GOP Texas Sen. John Cornyn's NRA-approved waiting period for potential terrorists, and finally Dianne Feinstein's terror gap bill.
The votes are all subject to a 60-vote majority. All will probably fail. In light of that, Vice President Joe Biden has some advice: "On Monday and beyond, make yourselves impossible to ignore. […] You know that by stepping up, your action has the potential to create a domino effect. Have the courage to do it. We have done it before. We can do it again."
Monday, Jun 20, 2016 · 3:23:21 PM PDT · Hunter
Next up is the Murphy Amendment expanding background checks. It too fails the cloture vote by a near-party-line 44-56 vote. Democratic senators Heidi Heitkamp (ND), Joe Manchin (WV) and Jon Tester (MT) vote with the Republicans.
Monday, Jun 20, 2016 · 3:39:06 PM PDT · Hunter
The Cornyn Amendment, providing for a 72 hour waiting period on gun sales to individuals on the terror watch list so that law enforcement can make the case that the individual is too dangerous to allow the sale to go through. Like each of these amendments it needs 60 votes to move forward; it fails, 53-47.
Monday, Jun 20, 2016 · 3:54:58 PM PDT · Hunter
Last up is the Feinstein Amendment, giving the Attorney General's office the power to block gun sales to individuals suspected of terrorist ties. It fails 47-53. Sen. Heitkamp again votes with the Republicans, Republicans Kirk and Ayotte vote with the Democrats.