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Connecticut’s congressional delegation dejected, but hopeful after failed push for tighter gun laws

HARTFORD–Connecticut’s congressional delegation returned from Washington dejected over the gun debate, but not defeated. First, Connecticut’s ...
connecticut congressional delegation

HARTFORD--Connecticut's congressional delegation returned from Washington dejected over the gun debate, but not defeated.

First, Connecticut's Sen. Chris Murphy led a 15-hour filibuster last week with the help of fellow Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal and more than three dozen other senators. Then, Wednesday into Thursday Connecticut's congressmen spearheaded a sit-in in the House.

Both actions were done in response to the Orlando nightclub massacre, the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

Both groups called on Congress to do what it was elected to do: represent their districts. However, five gun control measures have failed in the Senate in the past week, and a vote wasn't even called in the House despite the representatives efforts.

They say 90 to 95 percent of Americans support "No Fly, No Buy," meaning suspected terrorists on the no-fly list would not be allowed to buy a gun.

Although the majority in Congress is still resistant to tighter gun laws, there appears to be a political shift happening.

"I think we're going to mark this week as when the tide turned," Rep. Elizabeth Esty, a Democrat, said.

"More Republicans in the Senate broke with the gun lobby this week than in the modern history of the anti-gun violence movement," Murphy said.

When asked if another sit-in is planned, Connecticut's congressmen would not rule it out.

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