WASHINGTON — He mourned the loss of 20 children in Newtown four years ago, and other mass shootings in the mean time.
Wednesday, he started a nearly 15-hour filibuster that ran into the early hours of Thursday, demanding votes on gun control measures just days after a mass shooting at a Florida gay nightclub.
Murphy and other Democratic Senators spoke out in a press conference for the Senate to take action on gun control.
As compromise on the gun issue remained improbable, Sen. Chris Murphy stood on the Senate floor vowing to remain there "until we get some signal, some sign that we can come together." He yielded the floor at 2:11 a.m., EDT, saying he had won commitments from Republican leaders to hold votes on amendments to expand background checks and ban gun sales to suspected terrorists.
Sen. Murphy and Sen. Richard Blumenthal worked a "back and forth" style to continue holding the senate floor. More than three dozen other lawmakers took part as well, including two Republicans.
On Tuesday, Congressman Jim Himes protested in favor of stiffer gun control laws by walking out of the House chamber during a moment of silence for the victims of the nightclub shooting.
Murphy began speaking at 11:21 a.m. on Wednesday to delay Senate business on the Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies appropriations bill until Republicans agreed to hold votes on the two measures. Murphy announced the agreement and concluded the filibuster at 2:11 a.m. Thursday, 14 hours and 50 minutes after beginning his speech.
