As police rush to school shooting in California, the Senate was discussing gun control
As police in Southern California searched for a suspected school shooter, senators across the country in Washington D.C. brought a gun control bill back to the floor.
One was killed and five wounded in the shooting at a high school in Santa Clarita, north of Los Angeles.
“Shooting at Saugus High School , Please avoid the area. Male Asian suspect black clothing last seen at the location. Deputies on scene and still responding. Avoid the area Further information to follow,” the LA County Sheriff’s Department tweeted at 7:56 a.m. Pacific time.
Nine minutes earlier, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said on Twitter: “I’m about to go to the Senate floor to ask for unanimous consent to pass universal background checks. Some will call me foolish for trying – one Republican objection and this fails.”
“But when 100 Americans are dying from gun violence every day, inaction is inexcusable,” he said, just minutes before police descended on the high school in California.
By 8:30 a.m., the bill calling for universal background checks was rejected, according to reporters and advocates in the Senate. The House passed the bill earlier this year but it has been stalled in the Senate.
“Just now on the Senate floor: Chris Murphy (D-CT) called for bringing up the universal gun background checks bill passed by the House; Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) objected on behalf of Republicans, blocking consideration,” Bloomberg reporter Sahil Kapur tweeted.
The Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 passed the US House on Feb. 27. The bill would close the “Charleston loophole” that allows people to buy guns from private sellers without a background check.
According to the bill summary, “It prohibits a firearm transfer between private parties unless a licensed gun dealer, manufacturer, or importer first takes possession of the firearm to conduct a background check.”
Police in Santa Clarita say at least five people are being treated after the shooting. Click here for more coverage on the school shooting.
This story was originally published November 14, 2019 at 9:19 AM with the headline "As police rush to school shooting in California, the Senate was discussing gun control."
