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Portman, Brown Split On Terror Watch List Gun Ban Issue

Karen Kasler
U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio); U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio)

For the first time since the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, the U.S. Senate took up votes on gun control measures. And Ohio's Senators ended up on opposite sides. 

Republican Rob Portman voted for an amendment that could temporarily ban someone on the terror watch list from being able to buy a gun. The measure allows for the courts to make it a permanent ban for each individual case.

Democrat Sherrod Brown says that measure wouldn’t help the situation.

“I would take those small steps if I thought it would get us to where I thought it would get us to where we need to go but when those small steps are written -- the legislation is written by the gun manufacturers it’s a step backwards not a step forward,” said Brown.

Brown voted for an all-out ban of people on the terror watch list from buying guns with an appeals process in place. Portman denied that provision saying it didn’t provide enough due process.

Both measures failed to pass the Senate.

Contact Andy at achow@statehousenews.org.
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