Democrats stage sit-in protest on House floor over gun control legislation

WASHINGTON - Talks intensified in the U.S. Senate on Wednesday on compromise legislation to stop gun sales to people on some terrorism watch lists, as Democrats shut down the House of Representatives to protest their chamber's lack of action.

Several dozen U.S. House Democrats pushing for action on gun control protested on the floor of the House, chanting "no bill, no break!" and demanding that the chamber put off an upcoming recess until legislation is debated.

The protest was the latest move by Democrats to persuade the Republican majority in Congress to take up gun control in response to last week's mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, the deadliest in modern U.S. history.

The Democrats stood or sat at the front of the chamber, where such disruptive tactics are relatively rare. When the presiding House officer, Republican Representative Ted Poe, entered the chamber at about noon EDT (1600 GMT), he declared the House not in order. After banging the gavel several times in an attempt to clear the protesters, he announced the chamber would be in recess and left.

The Democrats remained on the House floor, calling for action before a vacation recess scheduled to start at the end of the week and run through July 5.

Assistant Democratic Leader James Clyburn, likened the push for gun control action to the civil rights movement of the 1960s when sit-ins and other civil disobedience prodded Washington to act on new protections for African-Americans.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton tweeted her support for the sit-in, saying, "This is what real leadership looks like."

Democrats in the Senate last week took control of that chamber for nearly 15 straight hours as they called for gun control legislation.

On Monday, the Senate failed to advance four gun measures, including one that would have prohibited gun sales to people on a broad range of government watch lists.

Senators from both parties now are pushing for a compromise. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he would schedule a vote on the measure by fellow Republican Senator Susan Collins that would prevent about 109,000 people on "no-fly" and other surveillance lists from purchasing guns.

They were holding private talks on the bill and Collins said it could be voted upon this week.

"We're doing some refinements, reflecting some suggestions that we've had from both sides of the aisle," Collins told reporters. She said one of the issues being negotiated was the question of protecting the constitutional rights of gun buyers.

Senator Orrin Hatch, a senior Republican, said there was a "robust discussion" of the Collins measure but he will not be voting for Collins’ proposal.

"I'm a pro-gun guy," Hatch said.

Senator John Thune, a member of Senate Republican leadership, told reporters: "I think it’s going to get a vote ... whether it can pass or not at this point is kind of a moving target."

The powerful National Rifle Association said it opposes the compromise bill and called it unconstitutional.

PRIMAL SCREAMS

House Republicans have declined to advance gun control legislation and House Speaker Paul Ryan said earlier on Wednesday he was "waiting to see what the Senate does" before discussing the topic.

Many House Republicans say they see the problem differently than Democrats. "We don't view the fact that someone becomes radicalized and decides to kill a bunch of Americans ... as a gun problem," Representative John Fleming of Louisiana said on Wednesday. "We view that as a terrorist problem."

The Orlando gunman, Omar Mateen, pledged allegiance to Islamic State during the June 12 rampage in which he killed 49 people and wounded 53 with an assault rifle and pistol at a gay nightclub before being fatally shot by police.

House Democrats frustrated by inaction on guns have staged several actions on the House floor in recent days. They interrupted a moment of silence in honor of the Orlando victims and unsuccessfully sought recognition to bring up bills on expanding background checks and preventing people on "no-fly" and other surveillance lists from buying guns.

Democratic Representative Bobby Rush, in a news conference with House leadership and gun control groups on the steps of the Capitol on Wednesday, recounted his son's 1999 shooting death in Chicago and the mother's primal scream when the doctor said the man had died.

"It's time to end this chorus of primal screams in our nation and the time to end it is now," Rush shouted. - report from Susan Cornwell and Timothy Gardner, Reuters

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Obama voices anger over Oregon shooting, urges gun control

WASHINGTON, United States - US President Barack Obama on Thursday voiced his anger and sadness after the country's latest deadly shooting, this time at an Oregon community college, and made another impassioned plea for gun control legislation.

"There has been another mass shooting in America," a stony-faced Obama said in reaction to the shooting by a male gunman at Umpqua Community College in rural Roseburg, which left 10 people dead.

"Somehow this has become routine," said the president. "We become numb to this."

"The reporting is routine. My response here at this podium ends up being routine," said the president, making his 15th statement on a mass shooting since taking office in 2009.

"And what's become routine, of course, is the response of those who oppose any kind of common sense gun legislation."

Obama reiterated his frustration at the failure of the Republican-controlled Congress to back new gun control measures, and threw down the gauntlet to lawmakers.

"Prayers are not enough," he said. "We can actually do something about it, but we're going to have to change our laws."

"This is a political choice we make," Obama said. "This is not something I can do myself. I have to have a Congress and state legislatures and governors who are willing to work with me on this."

"It cannot be this easy for somebody who wants to inflict harm on other people to get his or her hands on a gun."

- 'It doesn't make sense' -

School shootings have become a disturbing reality of American life and many facilities have reinforced security in recent years, especially in the wake of the Sandy Hook massacre in 2012.

When 26 people -- among them 20 young children -- were killed in the Sandy Hook elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut in one of the worst-ever school massacres, many thought it would mark a turning point in the US debate on gun control.

As America reeled in shock, Obama tasked his Vice President Joe Biden to push for movement on the issue in Congress.

But within just four months, hopes for a meaningful reform were dashed, after senators rejected a law that would have made criminal and mental health background checks compulsory for gun purchases online and at gun fairs -- a major political setback for the president.

A furious Obama called it a "shameful day for Washington," placing the blame squarely on the powerful US gun lobby.

Obama also called the US media to account, asking them to set the human cost of gun violence side by side with the -- far lower -- number of people killed in terrorist attacks.

The United States has the highest number of firearms per capita of the developed world, with close to 89 guns in circulation per 100 people -- without counting police and military weaponry.

According to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, an average of 32,000 people died annually from firearms from 2009 to 2013, including about 20,000 suicides per year.

Beyond the political class, the president appealed directly to the public -- voicing hope that perhaps this shooting could be the one that provokes a shift in mindset.

"When Americans are killed in mine disasters, we work to make mines safer. When Americans are killed in floods and hurricanes, we work to make communities safer," Obama said.

"When roads are unsafe, we fix them. To reduce auto fatalities, we have seat belt laws because we know it saves lives."

"The notion that gun violence is somehow different, that our freedom and our constitution prohibits any modest regulation of how we use a deadly weapon... It doesn't make sense."

"So tonight," Obama said, "I'd ask the American people to think about how they can get our government to change these laws.

"And to save lives. And to let young people grow up."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Pinoys divided over stricter gun control laws in US

DALY CITY, California - On the one month anniversary of the Connecticut school massacre, Filipino parishioners of the St. Andrew’s Church in Daly City, California said they are praying for a violence-free country.

All over America, Christians are divided over proposals for stricter gun control laws.

CNN cited a study by the Public Religion Research Institute which showed that among religions, Catholics have the most number of people who favor stricter gun control measures, at 62%.

But even among Catholics, kababayans are still divided over stricter gun control laws.

There are those who said that total gun ban on civilians is a must.

"Yung iba na may baril maaring malakas ang loob," said Cesar Calindog.

A parishioner, who did not want to be identified, said there has to be stricter implementation of a gun law. She said, “I hope that our system can really impose safety for everyone.”

But there are those who said people should not be deprived the second amendment right.

Fidela Bugarin said, “It really depends on the person using the gun. Sometimes you have to use guns for protection.”

So what does the Bible have to say about weapons? Father Piers Lahey, parish priest of the St. Andrew’s Church said, it’s clear Christ teaches people peaceful ways to deal with conflict.

“There is a wonderful image in the Book of the prophet Isaiah talks about the vision where spears, weapons will be turned into instruments of peace. I think for Christians around the world, there is a desire that there be peace.”

Father Lahey believes the problem goes beyond guns. He said, “You can stop the guns, you can control it maybe. But you cannot control the inner attitudes. There has to be healing."

source: abs-cbnnews.com