After 15 hours, Senate Democrats end filibuster for new gun laws

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) filibustering on Senate floor for gun control — (Image credit: Senate Television via AP)

At 2:11 a.m. in Washington, D.C., Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) yielded the Senate floor after a talking filibuster that began Wednesday just after 11 a.m. Murphy, who was joined by several colleagues during his nearly 15-hour verbal fight for stricter gun laws, ended his filibuster by saying it's not brave to stand up to the NRA for popular legislation, it's brave to sacrifice your life for one of your second-grade students, as a teacher did during the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Murphy's home state. "Ask yourself what can you do to make sure Orlando or Sandy Hook never happens again," he said.

Before his filibuster ended, Murphy said that Republicans have committed to holding votes on more strenuous gun background checks and restrictions for people on terrorism watch lists. According to Wikipedia, Murphy's filibuster was the eighth-longest in Senate history, beating Robert Byrd's infamous filibuster against the Civil Rights Act but coming nowhere close to Strom Thurmond's 24-hour solo filibuster of the same law.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.