In the days and weeks to come, Congress can and must work to help prevent these heinous attacks. Failures to effectively utilize the national background checks system have resulted in the loss of far too many precious lives. Too many felony convictions — like that of the Sutherland Springs shooter — have never even been entered into the national database.

One of the very first pieces of legislation I introduced when elected to the Senate specifically sought to strengthen the background-check system, target felons and fugitives trying to illegally buy guns, and prevent gun violence.

In 2013, after the shooting at Sandy Hook, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and I introduced the Protecting Communities and Preserving the Second Amendment Act. This bill would improve the National Instant Criminal Background Check System and make it easier to prosecute those who put guns in the hands of criminals. At the time, a bipartisan majority voted for our proposal, but Harry Reid, the retired Democratic senator from Nevada, and other Senate Democrats led a filibuster to ultimately prevent it from becoming law.

I remain committed to working with my colleagues to advance this legislation and any other measure that is both effective and constitutional. We must stop these mass murderers. The people of El Paso — the people of Texas — and all Americans deserve nothing less.

Boy ain't that the truth. I've been watching grackle and some of these others for three years now spewing their hatred for him, and no matter what he did or does, they are gonna shoot off their mouth. He ain't no saint, byt you better not look in your own closet, unless you are a saint. If you had a kahuna one, you could see the good he has accomplished for this country, and what it would be like if the beast had won. Get a life!

And, the "fake news" claim constantly being thrown around because a politician doesn't like a story are a threat to our 1st amend rights.

We republicans need to look for a better candidate, and a pro-2nd should be easy to find.

A good Republican challenger to Trump (nobody from 2016) is probably the best thing for our country. We can avoid a loss in 2020 and hopefully keep the few good things he has done intact.

Yes, not sure what he meant where he said "improve" the background check system.

Maybe he meant it should be used like it was designed to be used... And the penalties actually enforced.

Wouldn't that be something?

Mike

.---we must remember that hillary got nearly 3 million more votes than trump did last time and his support has gotten worse since then.

I see a pattern from Trump on dealing with the gun issue.The man is far smarter than any body gives him credit.And the media,for how smart and elite they think they are,can't seem to see when they are being played like a fiddle.

isn't it possible that he is "playing" his base? Self promoters play everyone.