Senator Chris Murphy Slams Congress For ‘Quiet Endorsement’ Of Murders, Mass Shootings
Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) released a fiery statement Thursday evening in reaction to the mass murder at Umpqua Community College in Oregon, slamming continued inaction in Congress on gun control:
My heart is with everyone in Oregon who has been victimized by this horrific tragedy. But I’m tired of sending sympathies to every corner of this country, every week. It’s time for Congress to end the silence which has become quiet endorsement of these murders. It’s time to stop believing it’s sufficient to send sympathies and then do nothing. It’s time for Congress to act.
Murphy has been a fervent advocate for improved gun control laws, especially since the December 2012 mass murder at Sandy Hook Elementary School in his home state. A push in Congress for expanded background checks was stopped in the months soon afterward, when Senate Republicans successfully filibustered a bill brought forward by the then-Democratic majority.
At the last Republican debate, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) bragged about his role in killing that legislation, saying that “when Harry Reid and Barack Obama came after the right to keep and bear arms of millions of Americans, I was proud to lead the fight in the United States Senate to protect our right to keep and bear arms.” Cruz made no mention of the fact that this push for expanded background checks had been introduced after 20 first graders and six of their teachers were killed in their classrooms, and of course that the “right to keep and bear arms” would not have been infringed by such legislation.
President Obama has spoken of the failure to enact gun control legislation as one of the biggest disappointments of his presidency.
Photo: Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), official photo.'
Frequently Asked Questions:
Was there any progress on gun control during the Trump administration?
If you glance at the records of former President Trump and President Biden, you’ll witness one president who has failed to create long-lasting legislation that will stop mass shootings and one president who has successfully passed bills that will curb future gun violence. During his tenure, Trump widened access of gun purchases for criminals and “froze a rule that would have prohibited more people who are dangerous because they suffer from severe mental illness from buying guns.” Trump did attempt to ban bump stocks, which enables guns to fire more rapidly, but his ban was rescinded earlier this year by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of appeals. Former president Trump represents the Republican Party’s agenda of “thoughts and prayers,” completely ignoring the senseless tragedies of thousands of Americans that can easily be stopped with legislation.
Has there been any progress on gun control during the Biden administration?
Yes, as one of President Biden’s most impressive accomplishments of his presidency so far occurred in 2022, when he passed the most expansive gun legislation bill in thirty years. The bill “includes incentives for states to pass so-called red flag laws that allow groups to petition courts to remove weapons from people deemed a threat to themselves or others…expands an existing law that prevents people convicted of domestic abuse from owning a gun to include dating partners rather than just spouses and former spouses…[and] expands background checks on people between the ages of 18 and 21 seeking to buy a gun.” President Biden should be applauded for his successful efforts to curb mass shootings.
Was Ted Cruz smart in bragging about killing legislation that would have expanded background checks?
No, in his own state, Texans have very different opinions than him on gun violence. In fact, 78 percent of Texans want “background checks on all gun sales” and 52 percent of Texans want stricter gun laws. Texans, if you want safety from gun violence, vote Cruz out of office in 2024.
