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U.S. NEWSWednesday 9 December
US Democrats seek spotlight to curb terror suspects’ guns
ALAN FRAM which for years has used Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. discusses gun control during a news conference on Capitol Hill in
Associated Press an alliance with gun-rights Washington. Democrats took to the floors of the Senate and House on Tuesday to draw attention
WASHINGTON (AP) — Dem- lawmakers, mostly Republi- to their drive to prevent suspected violent extremists from obtaining guns.
ocrats took to the floors of cans, to block gun control
the Senate and House on legislation in Congress. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Tuesday to draw attention “We can’t let a small group,
to their drive to prevent an influential, powerful lob- posal and a Cornyn pro- a leading gun control ad- a gun control vote. “They
suspected violent extrem- bying group, make Ameri- posal similar to Tuesday’s. vocate, forced a series of have no idea what it takes
ists from obtaining guns, cans less safe,” Schumer Republicans have react- procedural votes to pro- to get on the no-fly list,”
an issue they believe has said. ed to the San Bernardino test Republican leaders’ Perry said. He said that list is
gained potency from last No. 2 Senate Republi- killings by emphasizing refusal to allow debate on maintained by “the same
week’s shooting massacre can leader John Cornyn national security, push- legislation by Rep. Peter administration that perse-
in California. blocked debate on the ing legislation stiffening King, a Republican, that is cutes its citizens” with the
Facing certain defeat, legislation, which is spon- restrictions on refugees similar to Feinstein’s. Rep. Internal Revenue Service,
Democrats in both cham- sored by Sen. Dianne Fein- and travel to the U.S. In Scott Perry, a Republican, a reference to the 2013
bers unsuccessfully tried stein, a Califo9rnia Demo- the House, Democrats led drew boos and catcalls outcry over that agency’s
forcing votes on legislation crat and a longtime advo- by Rep. Mike Thompson, a from Democrats when he intense scrutiny of some
that would let the govern- cate of gun curbs. California Democrat and railed against the “fool’s conservative groups seek-
ment prohibit firearms sales He offered his own plan errand” of their push for ing tax exemptions.q
to people suspected of giving the government 72
terror acts. Debate, livid hours to delay gun sales
at times, came days af- to those suspected of ter-
ter a Muslim couple who ror acts and persuade a
federal authorities say ad- judge to block that sale,
opted extremist views killed and letting the govern-
14 people last week in San ment immediately arrest
Bernardino, California. the suspect. Democrats
Sen. Chuck Schumer, a blocked that.
Democrat, called it “ab- Cornyn said Democrats
solute insanity” that sus- were trying to “capitalize”
pected violent extremists on last week’s California
are not already among shootings “to justify this
the categories of people unconstitutional attempt
barred from purchasing to deny American citizens
firearms from gun dealers. their core constitutional
Without naming them, he rights,” such as gun owner-
blamed the gap on the ship. The Senate last week
National Rifle Association, rejected Feinstein’s pro-
Supreme Court justices weigh the
meaning of ‘one person, one vote’
MARK SHERMAN gue that including children
Associated Press and people who are not
WASHINGTON (AP) — citizens inflates the voting
The U.S. Supreme Court power of urban residents
is treading gingerly on a and dilutes the votes of ru-
question of immense im- ral residents.
portance to the grow- Civil rights groups say such
ing Latino population in a change would damage
the U.S. : whether states Latino political influence.
must count all residents, Texas picked up four con-
or only eligible voters, in gressional seats after the
drawing electoral districts. 2010 census, mainly be-
The justices on Tuesday dis- cause of the growth in its
played little of the aggres- Hispanic population.
siveness that often marks If the challengers prevail,
Supreme Court arguments many of those new Texans
as they heard a case would not be counted in
about the meaning of the drawing legislative district
principle of “one person, lines because they are too
one vote.” The court es- young to vote, not citizens
tablished 50 years ago that or otherwise prohibited
districts must be roughly from voting.
equal in population. Justice Anthony Kennedy
Two Texas voters are ask- at one point wondered
ing the court to prohibit whether states could pro-
states from basing elector- duce districts that were
al maps on total popula- roughly equal in terms of
tion, instead of the number overall population and eli-
of eligible voters. They ar- gible voters.q
