The U.S. Senate voted against four gun control measures Monday, prompting many to criticize the National Rifle Association’s influence in Congress.
Two of the measures voted on were separate Democrat and Republican proposals regarding background checks for those who are trying to purchase firearms.
The Democratic proposal would have created a universal background check system, including background checks for those purchasing guns on the internet and at gun shows.
Senate Republicans offered a measure which would have allocated more resources for the National Institute Criminal Background Check System. However, this measure didn’t expand on universal background checks.
The Democrats’ measure failed by a 44-56 vote and the Republicans’ plan failed by a 53-47 vote.
In the Senate, 60 “yes” votes are needed in order for a measure to advance to the House of Representatives.
Senate Democrats and Republicans also proposed two different plans for restricting suspected terrorists from buying firearms.
The Democratic proposal would have allowed the Department of Justice to block a gun sale if the person who was trying to buy a gun was on the Department of Homeland Security’s terrorist watch list.
Republicans would have allowed a judge to stop the sale of a gun during a waiting period if the judge had cause to believe the person trying to purchase it was involved in terrorist activities.
The secondary Democratic plan failed by a 47-53 vote and the Republican countermeasure failed by a 53-47 vote.
“I’m mortified by today’s vote, but I’m not surprised by it,” Sen. Chris Murphy said while addressing the Senate Monday.
In the wake of the Orlando night club shooting June 11, Murphy, D.- Conn., started a filibuster on the Senate floor, vowing that he would keep talking until the Senate voted on stricter gun control legislation.
The main measure for which Murphy was advocating was legislation that would prohibit people on the no-fly list from purchasing firearms.
While addressing the Senate, Murphy called out Republicans, accusing them of being controlled by the NRA.
“We learned on the months after Sandy Hook that the NRA has a vice like grip on this place,” Murphy said to the Senate. “… Republicans know they’re on the wrong side of the electorate. Democracy doesn’t allow for this place to be this out of step with 90 percent of Americans for very long.”
The “90 percent of Americans” Murphy referenced came from the results of recent CNN poll published Monday.
The poll found 90 percent of those surveyed supported preventing people on the no-fly list from buying a gun; 92 percent were in favor of expanding background checks; 87 percent agreed with a ban on selling guns to felons or people with mental health issues; 85 percent supported banning people on the federal watch list from buying guns.
Murphy wasn’t the only senator who blamed the failed vote on the NRA and Republicans.
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., claimed that Republicans answer to the NRA.
“Senate Republicans ought to be embarrassed,’ he said while addressing the Senate, “but they’re not, because the NRA is happy.”
However, a statement from NRA executive director Chris Cox called the Senate vote an “embarrassing display.”
“We all agree that terrorists should not be allowed to purchase or possess firearms,” Cox said. “We should all agree that law-abiding Americans who are wrongly put on a secret government list should not be denied their constitutional right to due process… It is shocking that the safety of the American people is taking a backseat to political theatre.”
According to Politico, a media group focused on political issues, gun control will likely be a determining factor in the November elections.
Wednesday morning Democrats in the House of Representatives staged a sit-in, demanding a vote on gun control legislation.
The sit-in was led by John Lewis, a congressman from Georgia and veteran civil rights leader.