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Connecticut's Murphy Leads Filibuster On Senate Floor Over Gun Control

U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, is leading a filibuster on the Senate floor at midday Wednesday in a battle over gun control issues. 

U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, is leading a filibuster on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday afternoon.

U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, is leading a filibuster on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday afternoon.

Photo Credit: C-SPAN2 screengrab

"I am prepared to stand on the Senate floor and talk about the need to prevent gun violence for as long as I can. I've had #Enough," Murphy said via Twitter ‏@ChrisMurphyCT.

The filibuster began at about 11:20 a.m. Wednesday. Murphy is permitting questions from other senators but is not yielding the floor. The filibuster was expected to last all day and into the evening. 

The junior senator from Connecticut had earlier Tweeted, "I'm speaking on the Senate floor to honor the victims of the Orlando attack & demand the Senate address gun violence. #Enough."

Murphy has spoken frequently on the Senate floor about gun violence since 20 first-graders and six educators were killed in the Sandy Hook School massacre in December 2012. 

He has renewed his call for gun control since 49 people were killed and more than 50 injured at a gay nightclub over the weekend in Orlando, Fla., in the deadliest shooting in U.S. history. 

Murphy was quickly joined Wednesday by fellow Democrats — including fellow Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey — in an effort to pressure Republicans to accept legislation that would keep suspected terrorists from purchasing firearms and require universal background checks, according to Politico.com.

The filibuster is over a Senate spending bill, which Democrats hope to offer gun amendments to, Politico.com said. Murphy said that the Senate should not proceed with debate on amendments to this bill "until we have figured out a way to come together on, at the very least, two simple ideas,” according to Politico.com.

Click here to read the story at the Politico website.

To watch the filibuster, click here to go to the website for C-SPAN2.

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