Ocasio-Cortez calls out McConnell for ‘sitting on’ gun reform bill since February

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) called out Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for not calling a Senate vote on a gun reform bill the Democratic-controlled House passed in February. 

Her comments come in response to McConnell’s tweeted statement that he is “horrified” by “senseless violence” in El Paso following a Saturday shooting that killed 20 people. After his tweet, a separate shooting in Dayton, Ohio, killed at least nine people early Sunday morning. 

“The House passed HR8, a Bipartisan Background Checks Act, *5 months ago* and the Senate has yet to vote on it,” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted Sunday. “It was one of our 1st major priorities after ending the gov shutdown. You’ve been sitting on it since February giving bogus excuses. Care to explain the people why?”

The House passed HR8, a Bipartisan Background Checks Act, *5 months ago* and the Senate has yet to vote on it.

It was one of our 1st major priorities after ending the gov shutdown.

You’ve been sitting on it since February giving bogus excuses.

Care to explain the people why? https://t.co/l5ZSDyPyWw

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) August 4, 2019

 The House passed the bill which would require background checks in February with overwhelming Democratic support, and some support from Republicans. 

The Republican-controlled Senate has yet to vote on the bill. {mosads}

Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a top-tier 2020 Democratic primary candidate, and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) publicly asked McConnell Sunday to call Senate back into session for a vote on the bill. 

A spokesperson for McConnell did not immediately return a request for comment.