A Georgia Republican said he won’t be part of the movement in his caucus to filibuster gun bills in the Senate, saying he believes Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) package of gun legislation deserves a vote.
“There’s was no ambivalence on the gun issue. I think, everybody knows what the issues are. We have not seen the final draft of the legislation that was produced, I understand, last night,” Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) said this morning on CBS. “But, I think, it deserves a vote up or down.”
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) joined the vow by Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Dan Coats (R-Ind.), and Pat Roberts (R-Kansas) to block any gun-control bills.
Isakson is meeting with some of the Sandy Hook families today, who are on the Hill lobbying for gun control.
“The heart and soul of every American goes out to the families of those who lost their lives in Sandy Hook. They deserve a right to be able to sit down and talk with me. And I gave them that right and will be happy to meet with them,” he said.
The senator said both Obama’s gun-control push and the NRA’s counter push are having an impact.
“It’s getting the phones to ring, and they’re ringing on both sides. Michael Bloomberg was running ads back in Georgia telling everyone to call Senator Chambliss and myself. I know there are other programs going on to drive the phone calls, and that’s — they’re doing their job,” Isakson said. “You know, there are two amendments at issue here. One’s the First Amendment that you enjoy, the freedom of speech. That’s what they’re enjoying. Second is the right to bear arms, which is the whole issue in terms of gun control.”
“…I stand for the Second Amendment. I don’t want — I want our people to have unfettered access to be able to exercise their constitutional right, but also if somebody’s a felon and it’s known, I don’t think they should be able to make a purchase.”
Isakson is organizing the guest list for another dinner between President Obama and a group of Senate Republicans on Wednesday night.
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