Republicans block gun bill to battle white supremacy and domestic terrorism

Senate remains at bottleneck over firearms rights after mass shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde, Texas

Activists join Senate Democrats outside the Capitol to demand action on US gun control legislation. AP

US Senate Republicans blocked a bill titled the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act in Congress on Thursday that Democrats viewed as a response to a white supremacist's killing of 10 black people this month and a potential gateway to a gun control bill.

Two days after another mass killing of 19 young children and two teachers at a Texas school, senators voted 47-47 along party lines, short of the 60 senators required to launch debate, to reject the bill authorising federal agencies to monitor and report jointly on domestic terrorism within the US, including incidents related to white supremacy.

Republicans said the legislation was unnecessary as Democratic President Joe Biden already had the authority to organise his administration's response to violent extremism.

Democrats insisted the bill was needed to bolster the federal government's response to rising incidents of domestic violent extremism.

The outcome, which had been expected, cut off the chance for any immediate action on gun-control legislation to address a rising tide of mass shootings in the US. Senators were due to leave Washington for a one-week Memorial Day holiday.

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  Attorney Benjamin Crump, accompanied by the family of Ruth Whitfield, a victim of shooting at a supermarket, speaks to the media during a news conference in Buffalo, New York. AP

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  Vintage Firearms, the gun shop where Buffalo supermarket shooting suspect Payton Gendron legally purchased his weapon, in Endicott, New York. Reuters

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  Vintage Firearms in Endicott, New York. Reuters

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  A member of the FBI looks at bullet holes through the glass at the scene of a shooting at a TOPS supermarket in Buffalo, New York. Reuters

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  People embrace near the scene of the fatal mass shooting in Buffalo. AP

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  Police officers secure the scene after a shooting at TOPS supermarket in Buffalo. Reuters

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  Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia speaks at a press conference after the shooting. AP

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  A woman is in shock, as police investigate the shooting. AP

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  A man is detained after the mass shooting. Photo: BigDawg/ via Reuters

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  Two people hug near the scene of the mass shooting. EPA

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  Payton Gendron, 18, was arraigned on first-degree murder charges and detained without bail. AP

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  A floral tribute and candles are laid. AP

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  Stephanie Morris is overcome with emotions, after news of the fatal shooting had spread. AP

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  Children walk hand-in-hand near the scene of the shooting. AP

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  People pay their respects outside the supermarket. AP

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  Mourners gather for a vigil for victims of the shooting. Reuters

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  Sharon Doyle gathers with others outside the supermarket. AP

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  Worshippers affected by the shooting pray at True Bethel Baptist Church in Buffalo. AP

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  People march to the scene of the shooting in Buffalo. AP

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  A person holds a flower as a group prays near the scene of the shooting. AP

Mass shootings in recent years have provoked flurries of discussion in Congress on what to do about gun violence but little action as the two parties are deeply divided on gun rights. Americans have little confidence in Congress' ability to solve the problem, with a Reuters/Ipsos poll on Tuesday showing that only 35 per cent believe politicians will act.

The House of Representatives passed the domestic terrorism bill along party lines last week, after an avowed white supremacist killed the 10 black people in a livestreamed shooting at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, on May 14.

Democrats and some Republicans in the Senate have discussed the possibility of bipartisan legislation to address the issue, including proposals to expand background checks for gun purchasers and to keep firearms out of the hands of the mentally ill.

A total of 79 per cent of Americans — and 78 per cent of Republicans — are more likely to vote for a candidate in November's midterm elections who supports passing red flag laws of that kind, the Reuters/Ipsos poll found.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said at least five Democratic politicians including Senator Chris Murphy have reached out to Republicans about possible measures related to gun and school safety.

Mr Murphy, who advocates gun restrictions, said talks with Republicans would continue into next week. But the odds are slim at best that the Senate will enact any bill to restrict guns.

"None of us are under any illusions that this will be easy," Mr Schumer said on the Senate floor, accusing Republicans of being in the "vice grip" of the US gun lobby. But he said: "We need to give it a short amount of time to try."

With the 100-seat Senate split 50-50, gun legislation would need 10 Republican votes to meet the chamber's 60-vote threshold for passing most bills.

Republicans generally oppose gun restrictions and instead assert a right to bear arms protected by the Second Amendment of the US Constitution.

Mr Schumer has taken initial steps towards a possible vote on other legislation to tighten background checks for gun buyers if current bipartisan talks prove fruitless.

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  Alanna De Leon writes the name of her friend, Annabelle Rodriguez, who died in the shooting. AFP

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  Pallbearers carry the coffin of Amerie Jo Garza into Sacred Heart Catholic Church. AP

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  Pallbearers carry the coffin of Amerie Jo Garza, who died in the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. AFP

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  A memorial in Town Square, Uvalde, Texas, for victims of the Robb Elementary school shooting. Reuters

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  A woman places a rose on Layla Salazar’s memorial cross, who was one of the victims that died in the shooting. Reuters

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  Bags with brisket sandwiches and a snack that will be sold at a fundraiser for families of the victims. Reuters

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  Ashtyn Leigh, 18, hands a man a brisket meal. Reuters

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  A choir sings in front of the memorial. Reuters

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  People pray in front of memorial crosses. Reuters

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  Nineteen children and two adults were killed in the shooting. AFP

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  People visit a memorial for the victims. AFP

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  Flowers are left outside the school. AFP

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  Twenty-one empty chairs are seen outside of a daycare center as a memorial for the victims. AP Photo

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  Football teammates of Tess Mata, who died in the Texas school shooting, cry as they visit a makeshift memorial outside the Uvalde County Courthouse. AFP

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  A football teammate of shooting victim Tess Mata cries, supported by her mother. AFP

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  Texas police faced angry questions over why it took an hour to stop the gunman who murdered 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde, as video emerged of desperate parents begging officers to storm the school. AFP

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  Activists join Senate Democrats outside the Capitol, in Washington, to demand action on gun control legislation after the killings at the Texas elementary school this week. AP

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  The George R Brown Convention Centre, site of the National Rifle Association annual convention. Days after the deadliest mass school shooting in Texas history, the gun lobbyist group is meeting in Houston, from Friday until Sunday. Reuters

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  Pastor Carlos Contreras preaches to his congregation as photos of some of the children killed in the mass shooting at Robb Elementary flash on the screen at Primera Iglesia Bautista, in Uvalde. Reuters

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  People march after a vigil held to stand with the Uvalde families and demand an end to gun violence in Newtown, Connecticut. AP

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  A woman holds up a banner at the end of the vigil in Newtown, Connecticut. AP

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  Newtown was the scene of the 2012 attack at Sandy Hook Elementary School, when 20 pupils and six teachers were killed by a gunman. AP

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  Candles are lit for each victim as people pray at St Philip's Episcopal Church. EPA

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  A makeshift memorial in front of Robb Elementary School. AFP

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  Omahar Padillo with his son Omahar Jr, 12, during a community prayer, in Pharr, Texas, for the shooting victims at Robb Elementary School. AP

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  Omahar Padillo Jr, 12, and his sister Samantha, 9, with their mother, Silvia Padillo, write messages in support of the victims at Robb Elementary School. AP

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  A vigil for the victims of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. AFP

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  A young mourner at the vigil in Uvalde, Texas. AFP

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  Families at the vigil. AFP

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  A woman holds a photo of Nevaeh Bravo, who was killed in the mass shooting, during a vigil for the victims of the massacre in Uvalde, Texas. AFP

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  Uvalde County Sheriff Ruben Nolasco is comforted by Senator Ted Cruz during a vigil at the Uvalde County Fairplex Arena. AP

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  Diana Karau of Uvalde with a therapy dog named Tritan before a vigil to honour those killed at Robb Elementary. AP

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  Gun-control advocates Dana Cibulski, left, and Judi Giannini attend a vigil outside the National Rifle Association headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia after the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas. AFP

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  Uziyah Garcia, 8, was among those killed in the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. AP

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  Pastor Jaime Cabralez, the uncle of shooting victim 10-year-old Eliahana Cruz Torres, is surrounded in prayer at his church in Uvalde, Texas on Wednesday. Reuters

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  A woman embraces a child outside Willie de Leon Civic Centre, in Uvalde, where pupils were taken after the school shooting. Bloomberg

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  Gun-control advocates hold a vigil outside the National Rifle Association (NRA) headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia. AFP

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  A woman and child leave the Civic Centre. Reuters