WASHINGTON -- More than 30 senators voted Thursday to try to prevent the Senate from debating a bill targeting gun violence, even as families of the Newtown, Conn. shooting victims were sitting in the balcony watching them cast their votes.
At least some of those senators -- particularly the moderate Republicans and conservative Democrats in the mix -- later scrambled to explain why.
"More than most states, Alaskans are protective of our 2nd Amendment rights and we guard them as we guard our property and loved ones," Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said in a statement. She was one of few senators to go on offense and tweet about the reasoning behind her vote.
It is "unacceptable" to agree to debate the gun bill before its language has been finalized, Murkowski said. A core piece of the bill would expand background checks on gun buyers; while details of that proposal were unveiled Wednesday, the legislative language is still being drafted.
"Today we voted to proceed to consider a bill unacceptable to Alaskans based solely on the promise that it will be improved upon by proposals that haven’t been fully introduced for public evaluation," she said. "Alaskans and Americans have seen what happens when Congress votes on things so we can find out what’s in them later, and they don’t like it."
Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska) was one of just two Democrats to join with Republicans in the filibuster effort. He explained his vote as a push to preserve people's Second Amendment rights, though he gave no specifics on how exactly he thought the gun bill would violate anyone's rights. Proponents of the bill reject this claim, saying it would not violate any rights.
"I'll continue to oppose any proposal that undermines the fundamental rights of Alaskans," Begich said in a statement. "I voted today against the so-called cloture motion because I strongly disagree with many of the provisions of the antigun legislation."
