Kimmel: 'Window Into Hell' Opened in My Hometown

He, Sen. Chris Murphy call for stronger gun laws
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 3, 2017 3:32 AM CDT

Sunday night's atrocity in Las Vegas has renewed calls for stronger gun laws—starting with stricter background checks. Sen. Chris Murphy said he's planning to introduce a new bill to strengthen background checks for gun buyers, even though they might not have stopped Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock, Politico reports. "We can't get caught in the trap of only advocating legislation that addressed yesterday's shooting," said the Connecticut Democrat. "It's time for Congress to get off its ass and do something," added Murphy, who also pushed for gun law reform after the Sandy Hook school shooting in his state. He accused many of his fellow senators of being afraid of the gun industry, CNN reports.

Jimmy Kimmel also called for action, including the closing of a loophole that allows buyers at gun shows to avoid background checks, the Washington Post reports. In an emotional monologue Monday night, he said he felt like a "window into hell" had been opened in his hometown and called for people to put politics aside. "What I'm talking about tonight isn't about gun control, it's about common sense," he said. "Common sense says no good will ever come from allowing a person to have weapons that can take down 527 Americans at a concert. Common sense says you don't let those who suffer from mental illness buy guns." (Police say they found 42 guns in Paddock's home and hotel room.)

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