Senators Rand Paul (R-KY), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Mike Lee (R-UT) scheduled a letter to be sent to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s office on March 26 to let him know they will “oppose the motion to proceed to any legislation that will serve as a vehicle for any additional gun restrictions.”
They did this because Reid has made clear his intention to bring up gun control measures aimed at expanding background checks and enacting new laws against gun trafficking following the Senate’s current recess.
Although Paul, Cruz, and Lee did not use the word “filibuster” in their letter, the intimation was that they will filibuster, if necessary, because they fear anti-gun amendment after anti-gun amendment will be added to the gun control bills if they reach the floor for a vote. And these fears are not without foundation, as Reid has already said he plans to allow an “assault weapons” ban to be presented as an amendment, which would include a “high capacity” magazine ban.
The Republican Senators do not believe the anti-gun amendments will pass. Rather they fear moderate Democrats who are vulnerable in 2014 elections may vote against the amendments and then use those votes to try to show they are somehow pro-gun.