SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) gets into an elevator as he leaves his office at the U.S. Capitol, March 25, 2019 in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
McConnell's Inaction in the Face of Gun Violence Angers Democrats, Progressives Calling for Reform
"I would hope and pray that he understands that he actually has the power to do the right thing here."
Aug 06, 2019
As the nation calls for gun control in the wake of two mass shootings in 14 hours over the weekend, Democrats and activists are taking aim at Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for refusing to take action on the continuing gun violence crisis.
McConnell has refused to move forward on a number of bills from the Democratic Party-controlled House that currently sit on his desk awaiting a Senate vote.
"This is actually, literally in the hands of one person in terms of this legislative action, and it's Mitch McConnell," said Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) on Tuesday. "And I would hope and pray that he understands that he actually has the power to do the right thing here."
\u201cSen. Kamala Harris: "This is actually, literally in the hands of one person in terms of this legislative action, and it's Mitch McConnell. And I would hope and pray that he understands that he actually has the power to do the right thing here."\u201d— The Hill (@The Hill) 1565117100
Harris, who is running for the party's 2020 presidential nomination, was not the only Democrat going after McConnell, who has become a target for liberals and progressives due to his resistance to forwarding any left-leaning legislation through the upper chamber.
"Two background check bills have already passed the House," tweeted Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), one of Harris' rivals for the 2020 nomination. "The Senate has an opportunity to pass them--but Mitch McConnell refuses to act."
As journalist Chase Madar pointed out, there's blame to go around for the whole GOP.
"Most of the country wants gun control, but we are blocked by the Republican Party," said Madar.
Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, called in a letter for the Kentucky Republican to return the Senate to Washington in order to move forward on the legislation.
"This inaction must stop," wrote Thompson. "We know background checks save lives."
Democrats were frustrated, they said.
"We passed gun legislation back in February," Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) told The Hill. "The Senate has done nothing. We are waiting for them to get serious about the situation."
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
As the nation calls for gun control in the wake of two mass shootings in 14 hours over the weekend, Democrats and activists are taking aim at Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for refusing to take action on the continuing gun violence crisis.
McConnell has refused to move forward on a number of bills from the Democratic Party-controlled House that currently sit on his desk awaiting a Senate vote.
"This is actually, literally in the hands of one person in terms of this legislative action, and it's Mitch McConnell," said Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) on Tuesday. "And I would hope and pray that he understands that he actually has the power to do the right thing here."
\u201cSen. Kamala Harris: "This is actually, literally in the hands of one person in terms of this legislative action, and it's Mitch McConnell. And I would hope and pray that he understands that he actually has the power to do the right thing here."\u201d— The Hill (@The Hill) 1565117100
Harris, who is running for the party's 2020 presidential nomination, was not the only Democrat going after McConnell, who has become a target for liberals and progressives due to his resistance to forwarding any left-leaning legislation through the upper chamber.
"Two background check bills have already passed the House," tweeted Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), one of Harris' rivals for the 2020 nomination. "The Senate has an opportunity to pass them--but Mitch McConnell refuses to act."
As journalist Chase Madar pointed out, there's blame to go around for the whole GOP.
"Most of the country wants gun control, but we are blocked by the Republican Party," said Madar.
Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, called in a letter for the Kentucky Republican to return the Senate to Washington in order to move forward on the legislation.
"This inaction must stop," wrote Thompson. "We know background checks save lives."
Democrats were frustrated, they said.
"We passed gun legislation back in February," Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) told The Hill. "The Senate has done nothing. We are waiting for them to get serious about the situation."
As the nation calls for gun control in the wake of two mass shootings in 14 hours over the weekend, Democrats and activists are taking aim at Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for refusing to take action on the continuing gun violence crisis.
McConnell has refused to move forward on a number of bills from the Democratic Party-controlled House that currently sit on his desk awaiting a Senate vote.
"This is actually, literally in the hands of one person in terms of this legislative action, and it's Mitch McConnell," said Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) on Tuesday. "And I would hope and pray that he understands that he actually has the power to do the right thing here."
\u201cSen. Kamala Harris: "This is actually, literally in the hands of one person in terms of this legislative action, and it's Mitch McConnell. And I would hope and pray that he understands that he actually has the power to do the right thing here."\u201d— The Hill (@The Hill) 1565117100
Harris, who is running for the party's 2020 presidential nomination, was not the only Democrat going after McConnell, who has become a target for liberals and progressives due to his resistance to forwarding any left-leaning legislation through the upper chamber.
"Two background check bills have already passed the House," tweeted Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), one of Harris' rivals for the 2020 nomination. "The Senate has an opportunity to pass them--but Mitch McConnell refuses to act."
As journalist Chase Madar pointed out, there's blame to go around for the whole GOP.
"Most of the country wants gun control, but we are blocked by the Republican Party," said Madar.
Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, called in a letter for the Kentucky Republican to return the Senate to Washington in order to move forward on the legislation.
"This inaction must stop," wrote Thompson. "We know background checks save lives."
Democrats were frustrated, they said.
"We passed gun legislation back in February," Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) told The Hill. "The Senate has done nothing. We are waiting for them to get serious about the situation."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.