Sandy Hook Families Make Case in Washington

Thursday could be the day the U.S. Senate takes up gun control legislation.

On Tuesday Sandy Hook family members walked the hallways on Capitol Hill. They went door to door visiting senators to try and press them to vote on new gun control laws.

The families are trying to convince Republican lawmakers to bring a bill to the floor for a vote.

"It is insulting to the families from Sandy Hook who've gone through this tragedy to not even get a vote on the floor of the United States Senate," Sen. Chris Murphy, said.

Some Republicans have said they planned to filibuster the legislation although a handful of other GOP members were against that.

The proposal would expand background checks, ban assault weapons and high capacity magazines.

Senator Richard Blumenthal said the families deserve an up or down vote.

"Like most of America they are a aghast that a small group of entrenched opposition could stop democracy," Sen. Blumenthal said.

On Monday President Barack Obama made the push for new federal gun control laws at the University of Hartford.

He said Connecticut's bi-partisan law should serve as an example to Washington. Last week many of the of the Sandy Hook families personally lobbied lawmakers at the State Capitol.

"My expectations for Congress are high," Nicole Hockley, mother of 6-year-old Dylan, said Monday. "I believe with that with the same approach of love and logic Congress will be persuaded to act"

The families hope to personally persuade lawmakers over the next few days.

Governor Dannel Malloy even took to Twitter urging Republicans to call the families back.

Tuesday morning Vice President Joe Biden met with the families before speaking at a gun violence event.

"They don't understand how we could even be at this point debating this," Biden said.
 

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