As #MassacreMitch Trends After Texas Shooting, Democrats Urge McConnell To Act
In the wake of yet another deadly mass shooting, Democratic leaders have urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to do something about the “gun violence epidemic” in the United States by taking up legislation that would expand federal background checks on gun purchases.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) pressed McConnell on Saturday to take action on H.R. 8, also known as the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019. The bill — which seeks to close loopholes allowing private or online sales of guns and sales at gun shows without background checks — was passed by the Democratic-controlled House in February.
McConnell has faced mounting pressure from Democratic lawmakers and others to bring the legislation to the Senate floor, but he has yet to do so.
The majority leader “should bring up H.R. 8 the week Congress returns,” Schumer said in a Saturday night tweet, hours after a gunman went on a shooting rampage in West Texas, killing multiple people and injuring at least 21. Three officers were among those who were injured, police said. A 17-month-old baby was also wounded in the attack.
“Enough is enough,” Pelosi said later in a statement. “Every day, the epidemic of gun violence inflicts a devastating toll in communities in every corner of our country, forcing far too many to endure heartbreak and tragedy.”
“The Republican Senate must end its obstruction and finally pass the commonsense, bipartisan, House-passed gun violence prevention legislation that the country is demanding,” she added.
Congress will reconvene on Sept. 9 after its summer recess.
Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, & everyone injured in the shooting in Odessa & Midland, TX.
Thank you to the first responders who risked their lives to stop the threat.@senatemajldr should bring up H.R. 8 the week Congress returns. We must #endgunviolence.— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) September 1, 2019
Enough is enough. Every day, the gun violence epidemic inflicts a devastating toll in communities across America, this time
in West Texas. The @SenateGOP must end its obstruction & finally pass House-approved legislation to #EndGunViolence. https://t.co/RcoVI6Eebm— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) September 1, 2019
Other Democratic lawmakers, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, also called on McConnell to do more.
“America is done waiting for you,” Warren, a 2020 presidential contender, tweeted.
Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) appealed to McConnell to move on H.R. 8 as well as H.R. 1112, another gun control bill passed by the House in February that would require a gun dealer to wait 10 days to hear back from federal authorities about a potential buyer’s background check before moving ahead with a gun sale.
Time’s up, @SenateMajLdr. Let’s vote on gun safety legislation NOW. Every day you wait, more tragedies happen.
Do something, Senator McConnell. America is done waiting for you.— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) September 1, 2019
I’m thinking tonight of those who lost their lives in Odessa and Midland and the loved ones they left behind. It’s abundantly clear that we must take action to curb gun violence in this country.@senatemajldr allowing votes on HR8 and HR1112 would be a good start.
— Rep. Katie Porter (@RepKatiePorter) September 1, 2019
Another horrific mass shooting in Texas. I’m heartbroken for the victims in Odessa and Midland and their families.
How many more times will the Senate do nothing? It’s time to end our gun violence epidemic. @senatemajldr, will you stand up for families and let the Senate vote?— Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (@gillibrandny) September 1, 2019
The hashtag #MassacreMitch started trending on Twitter on Saturday as people called on the senator to take action against gun violence.
The hashtag also went viral in August following back-to-back mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio.
At least 5 dead/21 wounded in #Odessa/#Midland. 2nd mass shooting in Texas in a month. And look, it was NOT the invading hoard!
More notches for #MassacreMitch’s & @GregAbbott_TX’s belts.
That NRA taint must taste SO delicious for the @SenateGOP to continue to do nothing. pic.twitter.com/nqiGmBYcQa— (((evan shapīro))) (@eshap) August 31, 2019
A bill for universal background checks has already been passed by the House and has bipartisan support in the Senate.
It’s supported by 93% of Americans.
One man has stood in its way of getting a vote. #MassacreMitch
It’s time for him to go. pic.twitter.com/kc2M22FoRN— MatthewDicks (@MatthewDicks) September 1, 2019
Nobody gives a fuck if you were briefed by your fixer. We want gun violence addressed NOW! Order #MassacreMitch to bring Congress back and get off the fucking golf course. https://t.co/iRO0SPoHH7
— Morgan J. Freeman (@mjfree) August 31, 2019
Not one peep from #MassacreMitch since the #OdessaShooting. Texas mourns. America mourns. McConnell’s mute. Mitch McConnell’s legislative malpractice has resulted in absolute failure to move on #GunReform. Trump, McConnell, and the GOP grab their gun lobby money & run, run, run.
— Stephanie Kennedy (@WordswithSteph) September 1, 2019
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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
