It's just too predictable, right? Minutes after a Las Vegas mass shooting that left three dead, Senate Republicans did what they always do: Blocked legislation supported by 90% of Americans. Via Reuters:
WASHINGTON, Dec 6 (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Republicans moved to block a ban on assault-style weapons put forward by Democrats on Wednesday, as the United States recorded the highest number of mass shootings for the second year in a row.
The motion, put forward by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, would have reauthorized the Assault Weapons Ban, which first passed in 1994 and expired 10 years later.
The ban covers certain semi-automatic firearms and large capacity ammunition magazines, and ushered in a decrease of deaths from gun violence while it was in place.
What's the rationale? Ha, ha! Same as it ever was:
"The American people are sick and tired of enduring one mass shooting after another," Schumer said on Wednesday in a speech bringing the motion to the floor. "They’re sick and tired of vigils and moments of silence for family, friends, classmates, coworkers."
Republican Senator John Barasso blocked Schumer's attempt to reauthorize the ban by unanimous consent.
"Americans have a Constitutional right to own a firearm," he said in a speech on the Senate floor, arguing that the bill was about "trying to label responsible gun owners as criminals."
Everybody's a responsible gun owner. Until they're not. Until they're angry, or careless, or having a bad day. I feel safe in predicting that at least one ex-wife and children will be gunned down on Christmas Day, because it happens every damned year.
