With no constitutional amendment process in sight, the nation's first-ever anti-Second Amendment legislation has cleared its first hurdle in the Senate...
FoxNews: Controversial gun legislation cleared a key Senate hurdle Thursday, as lawmakers voted 68-31 to start debate on the package which includes expanded background checks and new penalties for gun trafficking.Amendments. The Toomey-Manchin amendment to expand background checks, along with other amendments to renew the ban on assault-style weapons and to ban high-capacity magazines. See what this cloture vote opens up, Senators? Why the hell couldn't conservatives filibuster this, Republicans?
Senate Democrats, joined by 16 Republicans, were able to overcome an attempted filibuster by GOP senators opposed to the current bill. Those senators could still slow-walk the debate, but the Senate will eventually begin votes on amendments...
Republicans undermining conservatism...where's the party principles in that? More importantly, where's the Constitution in that?
UPDATE: Here are the 16 disgraces (plus phone #'s!):
Lamar Alexander (R-TN) (202) 224-4944
Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) (202) 224-3324
Richard Burr (R-NC) (202) 224-3154
Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) (202) 224-3521
Tom Coburn (R-OK) (202) 224-5754
Susan Collins (R-ME) (202) 224-2523
Bob Corker (R-TN) (202) 224-3344
Jeff Flake (R-AZ) (202) 224-4521
Lindsey Graham (R-SC) (202) 224-5972
Dean Heller (R-NV) (202) 224-6244
John Hoeven (R-ND) (202) 224-2551
Johnny Isakson (R-GA) (202) 224-3643
Mark Kirk (R-IL) (202) 224-2854
John McCain (R-AZ) (202) 224-2235
Pat Toomey (R-PA) (202) 224-4254
Roger Wicker (R-MS) (202) 224-6253
Related link: GOP Senator Mark Kirk Says Booze And Parties On Dem-Owned Yacht Led To Bipartisan Gun Deal...
U.S. Sens. Lee, Paul, Cruz: Senate to Vote on Gun Bill No One Has Read