US Senate rejects series of gun-control measures

The US Senate has rejected a series of gun-control measures just days after the Orlando nightclub massacre shooting, including proposals to keep weapons out of the hands of people on terror watch lists.   

Senators from both Republican and Democratic parties introduced four partisan gun measures on Monday claiming they would strengthen background checks and prevent suspected terrorists from obtaining guns.

Two proposals which came from Republicans sought to increase funding for the national background check system and establish a judicial review process to keep a person on a terror watch list from buying a gun.

Two Democratic measures would have barred those on FBI watch lists or no-fly lists from buying firearms, expanded background checks to private gun sales and prevented gun sales to suspected terrorists.

There are 54 Republicans and 46 Democrats and Independents who vote with Democrats.

The Republican-controlled Senate voted down similar bills in the wake of the December 2012 Connecticut school massacre and the San Bernardino attacks last year.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell accused Democrats of using the gun-control issue to gain political advantage and said the two GOP texts are "real solutions."

"No one wants a terrorist to be able to buy guns or explosives. No one," McConnell said.

"Instead of using this as an opportunity to push a partisan agenda or craft the next 30-second campaign ad, colleagues like Sen. Cornyn and Sen. Grassley are pursuing real solutions that can help keep Americans safer from the threat of terrorism,” he stated.  

Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid described the Republican measures as "political stunts" and stated they are "meaningless in doing something to stop gun violence."

"These are amendments to divert attention from real legislation," Reid said. "Why? So Republicans (can) say 'Hey, look, we tried,' and all the time their cheerleaders, their bosses at the NRA, are cheering."

Assistant Minority Leader Dick Durbin censured senators for failing to approve the gun-control measure in the wake of yet another shooting.

"Tonight, the Senate turned its back on victims of gun violence from Orlando to San Bernardino, from Newtown to the streets of Chicago," Durbin said in a statement.

Omar Mateen, armed with assault weapons, stormed the Pulse Club on June 12, killing 49 people and injured 53 others at the gay club, marking the worst ever mass shooting in US history.

The 29-year-old suspect was an American-born US citizen born to parents of Afghan background. He was allegedly a Daesh sympathizer.

Every year, more than 30,000 people are shot and killed in the United States. The US averages 87 gun deaths each day as a function of gun violence, with an average of 183 injured.

The Republican-controlled Congress has snubbed efforts of the administration of US President Barack Obama to tighten gun laws.

Following the Orlando shooting, Obama once again called the Congress to take action to prevent gun violence in the country.

"Those who were killed and injured here were gunned down by a single killer with a powerful assault weapon," Obama said. "The motives of this killer may have been different than the mass killers in Aurora, or Newtown. But the instruments of death were so similar. Now another 49 innocent people are dead. Another 53 are injured. Some are still fighting for their lives."

Obama has repeatedly slammed those members of Congress who have been taken “hostage” by the powerful gun lobby, and put their desire to get elected before the safety of American citizens.

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