WASHINGTON D.C. – Inspired by the recent mass shooting in an Orlando gay nightclub, Senate Democrats, led by Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), launched a filibuster to demand new gun control laws, which came to an end shortly after a new and unrelated mass shooting.
Said Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) stated, “We will not yield the floor until this body passes a law to stop tragedies like the one in Orlando, as well as the current one that is taking place right now, which we can safely assume is horrifying and soul-wrenching as well.”
The wholly separate mass shooting came as no surprise to Senate Democrats, considering that in 2016 the United States statistically experiences a new mass shooting every 21.7 hours. The filibuster to pressure Republicans into accepting minor gun control measures did continue, though Senate Democrats were forced to to distinguishing the past week’s mass shootings as “The Extra-Horrible One”, and “The New One”.
While the filibuster quickly picked up support around the United States, Republican lawmakers were quick to criticize. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) was firm, “We do not think it proper that Democrats needlessly politicize the Orlando shooting by trying to stop the one that just took place.”
While Democratic senators ultimately succeeded in forcing a vote on restricting those on terror watch lists from purchasing guns, it remains to be seen– BREAKING NEWS: Reports of yet another mass shooting coming from small town America
