Meet the man who sparked the Democratic revolt on guns

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) was at his college reunion in Massachusetts when he heard the devastating death toll from Orlando. Forty-nine people.

He recalled immediately dreading the moments of silence, the calls to action and the “thoughts and prayers” he knew would follow, and decided then he wouldn’t let the nation’s deadliest mass shooting pass by without a real debate in Congress. “I just couldn’t do it again. I just couldn’t live through that same script again,” Murphy said.

Three days later, Murphy launched a 15-hour filibuster that spurred an emotional debate on gun laws in both chambers of Congress — and nationwide — for nearly 10 days.

House Democrats said Murphy’s move directly led to their unprecedented 25-hour “sit-in” protest that included 170 members — a show of support from the party for gun control that would have been unimaginable even before the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., in 2012.

Days after Murphy’s stand, GOP leaders agreed to hold votes on bills to prevent suspected terrorists from purchasing firearms. One of those bills, a compromise from a moderate Republican, earned support from eight Republicans from states like Arizona, Tennessee and South Carolina.  For the full article click here 

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