Senate Democrats ended a nearly 15-hour filibuster early Thursday after Republican party leaders reportedly agreed to allow votes on two proposed gun control measures.
Sen. Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, spearheaded the effort, following a shooting massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando.
In his closing statement, Murphy said that a deal had been reached between party leaders and votes would be held on whether to ban people on the government's terrorist watch list from obtaining gun licenses and whether to expand background checks to gun shows and internet sales.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is dismissing what he calls a "campaign talk-a-thon" by Democrats on the issue of gun control. It's not likely that the amendments will pass in the Republican-run Senate. McConnell is instead urging lawmakers to back legislation favored by the National Rifle Association that would let the government delay firearms sales to suspected terrorists for up to 72 hours.
Over the course of the 14 hour and 50 minute filibuster, Murphy was joined by forty senators, including Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal, and New Jersey Sen. Corey Booker, who stayed until the very end.
"Ask yourself, what can you do to make sure that Orlando or Sandy Hook never, ever happens again. With deep gratitude to all those who have endured this very very late night, I yield the floor," said Murphy.
Sen. Murphy's filibuster began three days after a gunman who had been investigated by the FBI opened fire at the Pulse nighclub in Orlando, Florida, killing 49 people in the worst mass shooting in modern American history.
