'People in a fit of passion will purchase a handgun to do bad things with it,' Reid said. Reid cites dad's suicide in gun debate

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid again took the Senate floor to make a very personal plea on Tuesday morning for a vote on gun control legislation.

The Nevada Democrat mentioned the suicide of his father, which happened in 1972. Reid pointed out that as a state lawmaker, he authored a bill to require waiting periods for handgun purchases.


“In Nevada, if you purchase a handgun, you have to wait three days to pick it up,” Reid said. “And it is believed that alone has saved the lives of many people. Sometimes people in a fit of passion will purchase a handgun to do bad things with it, Mr. President, even as my dad did — killed himself. Waiting a few days helps.”

It was the second day that Reid took to the floor to call for Republicans to drop their promises of a filibuster on gun legislation.

“I hope Republicans will stop trying to shut down debate,” Reid said.

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He again criticized those Republicans who have called for amendment processes for other bills but are now trying to stop amendments from being considered on a gun bill.

“I was relatively kind of stunned when I got a letter during our break from 13 Republican senators,” Reid said. “They’re the same senators who scream the most about regular order and amendments.”

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Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s office said he would vote against cloture should Reid attempt to move the bill with his own name that includes universal background checks and increased penalties for straw purchases.