Senate Democrats To Hold Republicans Accountable By Forcing Vote On Gun Amendment

Harry Reid and Senate Democrats have announced that they plan to hold Republicans accountable by forcing a vote on an amendment that would keep guns out of the hands of people convicted of violating laws protecting the entrances of healthcare clinics.

Politico reported:

Senate Democrats plan to force a vote on keeping guns out of the hands of people convicted of violating laws protecting the entrances of health care clinics.

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid has introduced the amendment, which would ban gun ownership by people who have been convicted of misdemeanors under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, a 1994 law meant to prevent violence and harassment at abortion clinics.

Reid’s amendment is a response to the mass shooting at the Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood clinic but after the mass shooting at a center for the developmentally disabled in California, the idea of keeping guns out of the hands of people who have been convicted of crimes has never been more timely.

In a separate statement, Reid called for action on gun violence after the San Bernardino shooting, “Gun violence has become a cancer on this nation. We are better than this. Too often we are turning on our televisions to scenes of horror like those we are witnessing today. This madness must stop. There is no excuse for inaction. We cannot allow ourselves to grow numb to gun violence or to feel powerless in the face of it. We can, and must, make common sense gun reforms that can keep weapons out of the hands of dangerous criminals and the mentally ill. The American people are crying out for us to act. If we do not act, this distressing reality will not change.”

Senate Democrats are going to make Republicans defend their all guns all the time for everyone attitude. Republicans and their gun industry backers have gotten away not being held accountable for too long. Republicans are going to have to go on the record, and explain to the families of mass shooting victims why they are voting against a common sense step to keep guns out of the hands of criminals.

After another shooting outside of a women’s clinic in Houston, TX, the time to act is now. Every day that Republicans waste equals 24 hours where innocent Americans are at risk of being victimized by gun violence.

Jason Easley

Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.

Awards and  Professional Memberships

Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association