NRA, GOP Defend Terrorists’ Rights

The National Rifle Association and its Republican minions in the Senate once again made it safe for terrorists to buy AR-15s and any other weapon they want.  They successfully blocked legislation Monday evening to prevent anyone on the terror watch list from buying assault rifles or any other weapon or explosive.

Terrorists have constitutional rights to buy guns, too, argued NRA loyalist Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), who offered an unworkable 72-hour waiting period for full federal investigations of anyone on the no-fly list who wants to buy a weapon. 

He and fellow Texan Ted Cruz echoed the NRA line that the problem isn't guns but terrorism and ISIS.    

Congress listens. Not to constituents, maybe, but to the NRA which pours millions into politicians topped with a generous helping of threats of revenge on those who vote against it. It worked again this week.

"No one wants terrorists to be able to buy guns or explosives," said Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), a recipient of millions of NRA dollars, just before voting to demonstrate his loyalty to the gun lobby.

Two Republican senators in very tight races got dispensations to vote with their constituents — Mark Kirk of Illinois and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire – instead of the NRA.

Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) had a typical Senate solution to the problem:  spend a few million on a study of the causes of mass shootings.

The votes and sound bites will be used in the coming campaigns to get votes and contributions, but beyond that they meant little since no-fly-no-buy legislation certainly be shot down by the Republican-controlled House.