Senator Ted Cruz left CNN’s Chris Cuomo looking absolutely stunned as he demanded to know if the host has bothered to ask a Democrat why they filibustered legislation that would prevent criminals from purchasing firearms.
Cruz did not hold back, leaving Cuomo looking like a deer in headlights during the interview which took place on Wednesday morning. He stated that his 2013 bill would have likely prevented the Parkland school shooting.
The Texas Senator tweeted out a portion of the interview on Friday.
One question to ask Democrats who filibustered Grassley-Cruz:
Why did you filibuster legislation that targeted violent criminals and sought to put felons who illegally try to buy firearms in jail? pic.twitter.com/HaIhTJMiTI
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) March 9, 2018
“Let me ask one quick question. Grassley-Cruz got 52 Senators supporting it. Nine Democrats. The most bipartisan support of any comprehensive bill. But Harry Reid and the Democrats filibustered Grassley-Cruz even though it targeted criminals and could have perhaps prevented these attacks,” Cruz said.
“Have you ever asked a Democrat why did you filibuster Grassley-Cruz, which targeted violent criminals and sought to put felons who illegally try to buy firearms in jail?” Cruz asked a stunned looking Cuomo.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Senator Cruz (R-TX) reintroduced the bill on Tuesday.
“Time and again we’ve seen the disastrous results of failures to fully employ the national background checks system. A number of recent mass shootings could have been prevented by proper execution of the existing system. Senator Cruz and I are now taking steps to bolster that system and improve its ability to prevent future violence.” Grassley said in a statement about the bill. “When we introduced this legislation in 2013, after the tragedy at Sandy Hook, it received a bipartisan majority vote in the Senate. I’m optimistic in rejoining Senator Cruz in this effort and look forward to the bill’s consideration.”
The bill has the support of outspoken Parkland student Kyle Kashuv.
The Grassley Cruz bill is one I fully support. @marcorubio and @senorrinhatch have a great bill too. I implore all positions to come together and vote this into law. @tedcruz
— Kyle Kashuv (@KyleKashuv) March 8, 2018
The bill was first introduced as the “Grassley-Cruz” amendment in 2013, and received a positive vote of 52-48 in the Senate, when Republicans were in the minority, the statement from Grassley’s office explains.
If passed, the legislation would improve the NICS, address mental health concerns relating to the purchase of firearms and bolster alerts to law enforcement. Additionally, it would commission a study on the causes of mass shootings from the National Institute of Justice and National Academy of Sciences and include additional grant resources, which can be used to strengthen school safety and security.
Watch the full interview here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9-O24oUS5A
