Dems pressure McConnell to hold votes on background checks

The letter to Sen. Mitch McConnell comes as House Democrats struggle with how to respond to mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio | J. Updated 08/06/2019 06:05 PM EDTHouse Democrats are demanding Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell immediately return to Washington so the Senate can vote on gun control legislation in the wake of two deadly mass shootings over the weekend that left at least 31 people dead. Story Continued BelowIn a letter likely to be delivered Wednesday, Democrats are calling on the Kentucky Republican to bring up two House-passed measures that would strengthen federal background checks for gun purchases. And on Tuesday, Malinowski and Escobar, who represents El Paso, sent a letter urging congressional leaders to begin working on legislation immediately, possibly even bringing Congress back in session to vote.“We should not wait until the district work period ends on September 9 to take action that will protect the American people,” according to the letter, which was signed by 48 Democrats and obtained by POLITICO.Escobar added that it’s “clear that our country is suffering from a hate epidemic – one that has accelerated over the last two years."Those Democrats, including progressive icons like Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and centrists like Elaine Luria (D-Va.), are calling for more resources — including funding — to deal with domestic terrorism. House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) summoned the owner of the website, 8chan, where the alleged killer in El Paso is suspected of posting his anti-immigrant manifesto before his deadly rampage.Thompson said he plans to ask the owner, Jim Watkins, to appear before the committee to answer questions about how he is handling the "proliferation of extremist content on his platform."The Democratic caucus is likely to take a multi-pronged approach to fighting gun violence and white supremacy -- dual threats that played a role in El Paso last weekend.