Orlando shootings: Democrats in 14-hour gun control filibuster

Democrats in the US Senate have held the floor for nearly 15 hours through the night to demand a vote on gun control after the killing of 49 people at a gay nightclub in Florida. The marathon session ended after Republicans agreed to hold votes on measures to expand background checks and prevent people on […]

Democrats in the US Senate have held the floor for nearly 15 hours through the night to demand a vote on gun control after the killing of 49 people at a gay nightclub in Florida.
The marathon session ended after Republicans agreed to hold votes on measures to expand background checks and prevent people on US terrorism watch lists from buying guns, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said early on Thursday.
The move could break a years-long deadlock on gun control and follows demands for action after the worst mass shooting in US history.
Murphy took to the floor of the Republican-controlled senate on Wednesday morning to launch a procedural obstruction, known as a filibuster, to press colleagues to accept so-called “no-fly no-buy” legislation.
The move comes as US President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden set out for Orlando, the scene of last weekend’s deadly attack.