US Republicans relent as Democrats end filibuster

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) – Senate Democrats ended a nearly 15-hour filibuster Thursday after Republicans agreed to allow votes on two gun control proposals.

Sen. Chris Murphy, who was leading the nonstop series of speeches, said Republicans have agreed to allow votes on universal background checks and preventing individuals on terror watch lists from obtaining firearms.

“I thought, could I live w myself if the Senate did nothing - again? Could I look myself in the mirror if I didn't take a stand? #filbuster,” he tweeted.

Democrats have pushed to attach the measures to a wider spending bill for the Justice Department that is being weighed in the Senate.

Murphy began the filibuster at approximately 11.21 a.m. (1521GMT) Wednesday, three days after Omar Mateen allegedly opened fire at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, killing 49 victims and wounding 53 others.

The massacre has elicited widespread calls for stronger gun control legislation, but it is unclear if lawmakers will take heed.

Similar outcry erupted in 2012 when a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at an elementary school in Murphy’s home state of Connecticut.

Gun advocates are fiercely opposed to tightening regulations on what they view as an unwavering right to firearms guaranteed by the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

The National Rifle Association, which is among the most influential lobbying groups in Washington, tweeted shortly after the filibuster ended. “Senate could vote TODAY on new anti-gun bills. Tell them #guncontrol isn't a real response to terrorism!,” the organization said.

The vote has yet to be scheduled.

The measures seem unlikely to pass the Republican-controlled Senate, but if they do make it to the House, Speaker Paul Ryan told reporters that he did not support regulations that would bar individuals on terror watch lists from purchasing a weapon.

"As we look at how to proceed, we also want to make sure that we're not infringing upon people's legitimate constitutional rights," Ryan said during his weekly press conference. "We don't take away citizens' rights without due process."