Will Gun Laws Pass In The Senate? Not Likely
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A week has now passed since the deadliest mass shooting in United States history.
A man who pledged his allegiance to ISIS shot and killed 49 people inside a gay nightclub in Orlando. The shooting, once again, brought the issue of gun control to lawmakers in Washington D.C.
On Monday, some action was being taken. The U.S. Senate was slated to vote on four different amendments related to gun control and terrorism.
None of the measures, however, are expected to pass -- even though the vast majority of the public supports them.
Omar Mateen, the Orlando shooter, was being investigated by the FBI for terrorism, but he bought his weapons easily and legally.
But the head of the National Rifle Association told CBS News the issue isn't gun laws, it's terrorism.
"The president and the whole gun ban movement said, 'Hey! Don't look at terrorists! Look over here! Divert your attention! Take your eyes off the problem," Wayne LaPierre said. "Because they don't want to talk about their failure in the terrorist area."
The Senate is voting on two Democratic and two Republican amendments on gun control.
Democrats want to ban gun sales to anyone on the "no fly" or terrorist watch list. They also want to close the so-called "gun show loophole" by expanding background checks to sales at gun shows and online.
Republicans want law enforcement notified if anyone on the terror watch list tries to buy a gun, and the U.S. Attorney General has three days to block it.
Another amendment seeks to add more money to expand a national crime database when anyone buys a gun.
But the likely outcome, according to political analysts, is that no changes will come.
"In the near future, so long as the political alignment remains the way it is, I don't see any chance that we are going to pass any meaningful gun legislation," said professor David Schultz of Hamline University. "In fact, I don't see anyone passing any gun legislation in the next few years."
The Senate began voting on the amendments on Monday evening. Unless there is a last minute compromise, all four measures are expected to go down.
Looking ahead to the election in November, gun legislation will almost certainly be part of the discussion.
