The U.S. Senate on Wednesday blocked a legislation that sought to toughen restriction on gun sales, sparking outrage from the bill’s backers and victims of mass shootings in the country.

Patricia Maisc, a survivor of the 2011 Tucson shooting that killed six people and injured 18 including U.S. Congresswoman Gabriel Gifford, cried “Shame on you!” as the measure fell. She was ejected from the chambers, but her words left the room ringing with cold disappointment shared by many.

U.S. President Barack Obama used unusually strong words to reprimand the lawmakers, calling the block of the measure as “shameful.” “They (the Senate) blocked commonsense gun reform while these (shooting victims’) families looked on from the Senate gallery,” furious Obama said.

Other Democrats who backed the gun reform expressed their frustration as well. Senator Richard Blumenthal said it was “the saddest day of my years in public life” and Senator Chuck Schumer apologized to Jillian Soto, the sister of a Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victim Vicki Soto, as she stood in tears.

Vicki Soto was one of five staff members who were shot to their death in the tragic incident that also claimed the lives of 20 children.

The Senate’s decision was a major blow to many of the victims’ families who hung their hopes on gun reform.

Francine Wheeler, the mother of a 6-year-old Ben who was killed in the Sandy Hook tragedy, appeared on the Radio last week and urged actions against gun violence. Emotional Wheeler pleaded politicians to “help us do something before our tragedy becomes your tragedy.”

Despite the disappointment, many supporters of the bill vowed to continue fighting for the gun bill to be pushed through the legislative process.

Pam Simon, Tuscon shooting survivor and former assistant to Gifford, said she was disappointed but added “we have not given up hope.”

Stephen Barton, a survivor of last year’s Colorado massacre -- in which 12 were shot to death during a movie premiere –- said that he will keep fighting. “You‘re disappointed, you’re upset and then you just harden yourself,” he was quoted as saying.



From news reports
(khnews@heraldcorp.com)