HUFFPOST HILL - Anti-Gun Votes Fail, Nation Readies Humor Defense Mechanisms For Next Mass Shooting

Muslim extremists? Disgruntled coworker? The post-tragedy period when the media most closely resembles Yahoo! Answers is still in effect. America's near-palpable sense of hopelessness over the ability fix all of this fell somewhere between “learning there is no Easter Bunny” and “just finished watching The Red Wedding.” And in a speech, Ben Carson sounded as if he were discussing Israel’s war on “Hummus.” It raised some eyebrows, but definitely scored points with the Council on Falafel Relations. This is HUFFPOST HILL for Thursday, December 3rd, 2015:

REQUISITE 'LOOK HOW BACKWARD THE GOP IS ON GUNS!' VOTES FAILS - Back to the hopes and prayers! Laura Barron-Lopez: "One day after 14 people were killed in a mass shooting in San Bernardino, California, Senate Democrats tried to push votes on measures to strengthen gun control laws. In an effort to apply pressure on Republicans, Senate Democrats tried to change the focus of legislation aimed at repealing Obamacare and defunding Planned Parenthood on the Senate floor Thursday. Their package would have stripped out the text of the underlying bill and replace it with three measures that would block individuals on terrorist watch lists from purchasing guns, expand existing gun background checks, and increase funding for mental health and treatment for substance abuse disorders…[the] amendment to bulk up funding for services treating mental illness and substance abuse disorders failed in a 47-52 vote...The measure blocking individuals suspected of terrorism from purchasing guns and explosives failed 45-54...Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) voted with Republicans against the amendment, and Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) joined Democrats in supporting it." [HuffPost]

More...