Showdown in the U.S. Senate as hunt for gun-control votes intensifies

Washington Times
April 17,2013


Gun control supporters scrambled Tuesday to find 60 votes to pass expanded background checks on firearms purchases, hoping to sway reluctant senators ahead of a showdown vote.

After spinning its wheels for most of the day Tuesday, the Senate set up a series of gun votes for Wednesday, including what has become the critical fight — a proposal to expand background checks to include all sales at gun shows and over the Internet, though it would exclude person-to-person private sales.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, has scheduled votes on eight other amendments to underlying gun legislation, including bans on certain types of guns and magazines.
He told reporters earlier Tuesday that gun control supporters were still searching for support, but he felt they had momentum.

“Am I saying it’s all over with, done, we got the votes? No, but we certainly feel we have the wind at our back,” he said.

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