WASHINGTON — Connecticut has had a “red flag” law for years, but after the Parkland, Fla., school shooting, some in Congress think other states should be prodded to allow authorities to remove guns, at least temporarily, from those who may be a danger to themselves or others.
National Rifle Association
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Despite Parkland, gun control push faces wave of opposition in Congress
WASHINGTON — Despite President Donald Trump’s willingness to support modest tweaks to the nation’s gun laws, Congress may not approve much change as lawmakers remain entrenched in a mostly partisan split over the issue, despite the national debate touched off over the Parkland, Fla., massacre.
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Sandy Hook parents tell Trump there’s no need to arm teachers
WASHINGTON — The parents of two children who lost their lives in the Sandy Hook school shooting told President Donald Trump the nation does not need to arm teachers, but should prevent mass shootings by training teachers to respond when a child displays certain signs of trouble. “Sandy Hook Promise has created something that works,” said Mark Barden, holding up a photo of his slain 6-year-old son Daniel.
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Trump considering support of Murphy-Cornyn gun bill
WASHINGTON — Grappling to respond to the massacre at a high school in Parkland, Fla., President Donald Trump is considering support of a bill introduced by Sen. Chris Murphy and Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn that would tighten FBI background checks of prospective gun purchasers. But Murphy tweeted, “No one should pretend this bill alone is an adequate response to this epidemic.”
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Another mass shooting? CT lawmakers say don’t expect Congress to act
WASHINGTON – Once again there’s been a mass shooting, at another school no less, and Washington once again has become the center of the debate on how to respond to these continuing massacres. But few expect any action.
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House GOP links concealed-carry to gun background check measure
WASHINGTON – The U.S. House is expected to vote, and likely approve this week, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act — legislation that would undermine Connecticut’s restrictions on carrying concealed firearms.
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Gun background check bill wins key GOP support
WASHINGTON — An effort to strengthen the gun buyer background check system received a big boost on Tuesday as both Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer became co-sponsors of the legislation. The “Fix NICs” bill in the Senate now has 11 Republican co-sponsors and 11 Democratic co-sponsors, and Sen. Chris Murphy says its filibuster-proof.
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Murphy, Blumenthal team up with GOP leader on new gun bill
Updated qt 5:20 p.m.
Sen. Chris Murphy teamed up with a Republican colleague who is usually on the opposite side of the gun control debate, Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, to introduce a bill Thursday that would improve federal background checks of prospective gun buyers.
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Murphy introduces background-check gun bill as ‘long-haul strategy’
WASHINGTON — Sen. Chris Murphy on Wednesday reintroduced a background-check gun bill he’s been trying to make law since a gunman killed 20 first graders and six educators in Newtown at the end of 2012. The political climate for the bill is no better now, however, than when the Senate rejected it in 2013 and 2016.
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CT lawmakers keep introducing gun control bills, but face uphill climb
WASHINGTON — Rep. Elizabeth Esty, who represents Newtown in Congress, on Thursday was the latest lawmaker to introduce a bill aimed at curbing gun deaths. Although the number of bills in Congress that would tighten regulations on firearms is growing, there’s no indication the political climate on Capitol Hill is becoming more favorable to gun control, even after the Las Vegas massacre.
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GOP blasts Dems for ‘politicizing’ Las Vegas as CT lawmakers continue gun control push
WASHINGTON — The Las Vegas shooting on Sunday has widened the fissure between congressional Democrats – who have renewed a push for gun control legislation – and Republicans who are condemning their political rivals for “politicizing” the issue.
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CT lawmakers lead new gun control push in wake of Las Vegas massacre
WASHINGTON — Reacting to the horror of the mass slaying in Las Vegas late Sunday, and led by Connecticut’s lawmakers, there’s a new push in Congress to reintroduce gun control bills that failed in the past. Though the fate of those bills in uncertain, “there’s a sense that enough is enough,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.
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This time, Newtown bike riders rolling away from Congress
WASHINGTON — With Donald Trump in the White House and a GOP lock on Congress, the 26 bike riders who roll hundreds of miles every year from Newtown to the U.S. Capitol to honor those slain at Sandy Hook Elementary School decided to change course. Instead of riding to Congress, they were riding away from it Thursday and toward where they believe their message has more resonance.
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Murphy tweets photos of gun violence victims as Trump speaks to NRA
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump’s appearance at the National Rifle Association’s national convention provoked Sen. Chris Murphy to launch a tweetstorm Friday urging people to turn off the president’s speech and reflect on the victims of gun violence instead.
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Murphy: Campaign donations proof of ‘fledgling progressive resistance movement’
WASHINTON – Sen. Chris Murphy said in a fundraising appeal Wednesday that said he has had a “staggering number of individual contributions” since the beginning of the year. He called it evidence a “fledgling progressive resistance movement” against the Trump administration and the GOP-led Congress “is only getting larger.”