McConnell: I'll Filibuster Gun Control Bill

Plus, Senate Dems are scrambling to decide on which bill to push
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 9, 2013 7:26 AM CDT
Updated Apr 9, 2013 7:56 AM CDT
McConnell: I'll Filibuster Gun Control Bill
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky. gestures as he speaks at the 40th annual Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Md., Friday, March 15, 2013.   (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

A gun control bill—though it's not clear which one—is expected to hit the Senate floor this week, and the latest Republican to threaten it is Mitch McConnell. The minority leader joins a group of GOP colleagues, now numbering 13, who intend to filibuster any gun bill that comes to the floor, Politico reports. McConnell says, through his spokesperson, that if Harry Reid files a cloture motion, McConnell "will oppose cloture on proceeding to that bill." Meanwhile, things are coming down to the wire for Senate Democrats, who will have to advance their own gun control bill if they cannot come up with a bipartisan compromise in time, the AP reports. They will meet today to discuss the Joe Manchin-Pat Toomey deal, and are expected to reach a decision on which bill to advance in the next couple days. More on the gun control front:

  • Some state and local officials are using new taxes as a form of gun control, Politico reports. In Chicago, there's now a $25 tax on all firearms purchases. California, New Jersey, Nevada, and Maryland are all considering new taxes on gun and ammo sales.
  • New York's Mayor Bloomberg is taking a different tack: He's grading lawmakers based on their gun control stance, much as the NRA does. Politicians will be given a grade of A through F, with better grades going to those who are more pro-gun control, the Washington Post reports. The system could worry Democrats from conservative states, who often feel they must vote against gun control measures.
  • Of course, gun rights groups aren't taking any of this lying down, Politico reports. In fact, some groups are going after even those Republicans who have received an A grade from the NRA, in an attempt to make sure they don't even consider a compromise with Democrats on background checks.
Meanwhile, President Obama was in Connecticut last night, vowing that he's as "determined as ever" to get a gun control bill. (More gun control stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X