NEW YORK (AA) – The Senate on Monday voted down four separate gun control measures, a week after a massacre at a gay nightclub.
Senate Republicans had agreed last week to schedule votes on amendments that would mandate universal background checks for gun sales and prohibit individuals on terror watch lists from purchasing firearms.
On June 15, Senate Democrats began a nonstop series of speeches, led by Sen. Chris Murphy, which lasted nearly 15 hours, to force action on the measures.
The measures came in the wake of a mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, that killed 49 victims and injured 53 others.
Congress is under pressure from the powerful National Rifle Association, which signaled interest last Thursday after an about-face following a meeting with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump to discuss banning the sale of firearms to individuals who are on terror watch lists.
The measures voted down were similar to proposals put forth in December on the heels of a mass shooting in San Bernardino, California, that killed 14 victims.
