Getting a Senate vote on gun legislation 'big deal,' partisanship expert says

LAWRENCE — As the Senate is expected to take up a series of gun-safety measures tonight in the wake of last week's mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, a University of Kansas researcher said it's a big deal to get a vote on these issues, even if long-term success appears murky.

Don Haider-Markel, professor and chair of the Department of Political Science, is available to talk about political developments surrounding proposed gun-control legislation in Congress. Haider-Markel and Mark Joslyn, professor of political science, co-authored a 2011 journal article on how people determine who or what they feel is responsible for a mass shooting.

Haider-Markel said it's typical for more conservative politicians and their supporters to attribute causes or problems with shootings to individual choices and actions while more liberal voters and politicians tend to focus on broader forces in the environment. Congress in recent years has largely failed to find a compromise on gun control legislation given this polarization.

Haider-Markel said last week's Senate filibuster by Connecticut Democrat Christopher Murphy likely helped get this legislation to the floor, though it's unclear what happens next.

"The filibuster and getting three or four Republicans senators to call for a vote made the difference so far," Haider-Markel said. "While the Senate might actually pass something, it's likely dead-on-arrival in the House. However, even getting a vote at this point is a big deal."

To arrange an interview with Haider-Markel, contact George Diepenbrock at gdiepenbrock@ku.edu or 785-864-8853.