Blumenthal: Congress ‘Complicit’ in Mass Shootings Because of Inaction on Gun Control

DIAZ-BALART: "We are keeping an eye on Washington, D.C. This is the Jewish Coalition presidential forum where in any minute senator Marco Rubio will be addressing the crowd. By the way, he's so far the only presidential candidate not to reaction to the rampage in California. Across the town, the Senate will reportedly debate some kind of gun legislation in the next couple of days. I want to go to the Capitol Hill right now and bring in Connecticut Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal. Senator, it's a pleasure to see you."
BLUMENTHAL: "Good to see you, Jose. Thank you."
DIAZ-BALART: "Your colleague, Senator Cruz, spoke on the shooting just in the last hour. Let's just listen to what he had to say."
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CRUZ: "This horrific murder underscores that we are at a time of war. Whether or not the current administration realizes it or is willing to acknowledge it, our enemies are at war with us. And I believe this nation needs a wartime president to defend it."
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DIAZ-BALART: "Senator, do you believe that we are in a time of war here at home?"
BLUMENTHAL: "Well, the war involves ISIS and ISIL and a part of the globe far away, but it certainly has ramifications at home in terms of the threat here. To say that we are at war at home is a question that really depends on the facts and circumstances. There are a lot of unknowns about the San Bernardo shooting. In fact, more unknowns than there are answers. And so to draw these kinds of sweeping, vast conclusions on the basis of this hideous and horrific murder I think is somewhat hazardous, but we do know that there are measures that can be taken that will make these mass shootings less likely, background checks, better enforcement, as is apparent in California of laws that exist right now, providing the resources that are needed to make assault weapons bans really effective. And we do know from this shooting apparently that the motive and mental state, while unclear, certainly involve some premeditation and planning. And so the kind of wars that we've conducted in the past at home, the war on drugs, the war on crimes, we ought to have some kind of attitude in this country that now is the time for action. Complicity in these mass shootings on the part of Congress is fast becoming known because of the lack of action."