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Hill Democrats seek spotlight to curb terror suspects’ guns

San Bernardino County employees hold up photos of the San Bernardino shooting victims during a candlelight vigil on Monday, Dec. 7, 2015, in San Bernardino, Calif. The husband and wife who opened fire on a social services center last week had been radicalized "for quite some time" and had taken target practice at area gun ranges, in one instance just days before the attack that left 14 people dead, the FBI said Monday. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) San Bernardino County employees hold up photos of the San Bernardino shooting victims during a candlelight vigil on Monday, Dec. 7, 2015, in San Bernardino, Calif. The husband and wife who opened fire on a social services center last week had been radicalized "for quite some time" and had taken target practice at area gun ranges, in one instance just days before the attack that left 14 people dead, the FBI said Monday. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

By Associated Press December 8, 2015 1 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – Democrats have taken to the floors of the Senate and House to draw attention to their drive to prevent violent extremists from obtaining guns.

The Democratic efforts followed last week’s slaying of 14 people in San Bernardino, California, by a Muslim couple who federal authorities say adopted extremist views.

Knowing they faced certain defeat, Democrats in both chambers unsuccessfully tried forcing votes on legislation that would let the government prohibit firearms sales to people suspected of acts of terror. They believe that last week’s California massacre makes the linkage of terror acts and gun curbs a politically potent issue.

Republicans have reacted to the San Bernardino killings by instead emphasizing national security. They have been pushing legislation stiffening restrictions on refugees and travel to the U.S.