Gun Control Debate Re-sparked by Recent Shootings
Ali Barritt
Sandy Hook Elementary School, Colorado Springs, Aurora theater, San Bernardino, California, and now, the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Several devastating mass shootings have occurred over the years, and with a new tragedy involving the murder of 49 innocent civilians and injury of 53 others, “the worst American massacre since 9/11,” the topic of gun control has resurfaced.
After a nearly 15-hour filibuster by Democrats on the Senate floor a week after the Orlando shootings, the Senate voted on four gun control proposals on Monday. The proposals did not receive enough votes to progress as the parties are far apart on the issue. Yet, voting brought attention the issue at hand in a large way.
In addition, there are two amendments under consideration that involve the improvement of background checks for gun buyers, one proposed by Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), and the other by Sen. Chuck Grassely (R-IA). Grassley’s amendment aims to direct more money and resources to the National Criminal Instant Background Check System (NICS), commission a study by the Director of the National Institutes of Justice and National Academy of Sciences that would investigate the causes of mass shootings, and add an assessment of mental health to background checks for those buying guns. Murphy’s amendment would require for submissions of records of those prohibited from buying guns to NICS by federal agencies to be certified. Also, states that don’t provide data electronically to the background check system would be penalized. The amendment would also deal with gun sales online and at gun shows, and how they may be “subject to closing the gun show loophole.”
The National Rifle Association (NRA) fervently opposes closing the “loophole,” claiming that doing so would burden unlicensed gun sellers at gun shows; they don’t require a background check, unlike licensed sellers. The association says that this would hurt sellers who want to sell a single gun.
With the accumulation of mass shootings, gun control remains an important issue that has made its way to the table, but differing views among the parties has impeded any progress that could be made in regards to creating policies and amendments.
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