'There is simply no reason for this blatant obstruction,' Reid said. | JAY WESTCOTT/POLITICO Reid blasts GOP filibuster threats

Setting the tone for a likely fight on gun legislation this week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Monday bemoaned threats by more than a dozen Republicans to filibuster the bill.

“There is simply no reason for this blatant obstruction,” Reid said as the Senate returned from its two week recess.


Reid is currently deciding how tough a bill he can move to the floor this week, as Democrats are still working to lure a Republican to a compromise measure that would include background checks for gun sales. But the legislation is likely to fall well short of the sweeping deal President Barack Obama laid out in January.

( WATCH: Reid pushes for vote on gun legislation)

Several Senate Republicans, led by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.), have threatened to filibuster the bill.

Reid said last month that he would allow amendments to the bill, meaning Democrats could offer controversial elements like the assault weapon ban and limits on high-capacity magazines as amendments. And Republicans could presumably offer amendments that would limit the bill’s effect.

The majority leader assailed the group of Republicans for trying to halt the process before a vote could be taken on background checks, which he described as popular.

“I get a letter from a group of Republicans saying don’t touch it, that flies in the face of what 90 percent of Americans want,” Reid said. “Republicans disagree with the measure, let them vote against it.”

Reid said Republicans have complained that the Senate isn’t using regular order to consider legislation, but now that regular order is being considered, they are fighting it.

“Talk about speaking out of both sides of the mouth, this is the poster child of that,” Reid said. “Now when they encounter an issue that they’re afraid to debate in full public view they want to thwart debate all together.”

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Gun Control