Republicans in Congress are pushing back on Democrats’ attempts to use the Vegas shooting as the latest cause celebre for gun control.
Sen. John Cornyn slammed, “I just think politicizing this terrible tragedy is beyond disgusting and we ought to wait a respect full period of time…before we get into the push and shove of politics around here.”
Others are pointing to the obvious: we aren’t even certain yet how Paddock obtained all the 23 weapons used in his rampage.
But Democrats have an even larger uphill battle.
The last attempts to pass gun control legislation were abandoned because Democrats couldn’t muster enough votes from their own party.
And maybe there’s an obvious reason why.
If Paddock were dead-set on murdering lots of people and gun laws would have theoretically prevented him from getting guns, he could easily have just driven a large truck into the crowd or run through it with knives in-hand.
Here’s more from Washington Examiner…
Republicans signaled Monday that they weren’t close to considering a new gun control bill anytime soon, even in the face of pressure from Democrats who say the Las Vegas shooting that killed 59 people means it’s time for Congress to act.
It’s a sign the GOP will once again rebuff efforts to pass any gun bill that Democrats have been seeking in the wake of a string of mass shootings around the nation.
“I just think politicizing this terrible tragedy is beyond disgusting and we ought to wait a respect full period of time, out of respect for people who lost their lives or were injured before we get into the push and shove of politics around here,” said Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, when asked about the possibility of a bill.
Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., agreed that it’s too early to talk about gun control legislation.
“We do much better work when we allow the haze to clear,” Rounds said. “Most people I’ve talked to and visited with have been more focused on victims and their families right now and we’ll start out by offering our condolences to the families and those who are injured. Then, let’s get the facts about what happened and determine how this individual obtained the firearms. Did he have mental issues? Let’s get the facts.”
Republicans have often argued that the perpetrators of mass shootings are already lawbreakers, and that new laws aren’t necessary and wouldn’t be effective.
This time, however, the GOP is up against the largest mass shooting in history, which prompted Democrats to call on Congress to immediately to something to reduce gun violence.
“To my colleagues: Your cowardice to act cannot be whitewashed by thoughts and prayers,” tweeted Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., who has been pushing gun control since the Sandy Hook massacre in 2012. “None of this ends until we do something to stop it.”
