VIDEO: Sen. Johnny Isakson Talks Gun Control on CBS THIS MORNING
Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA) said today that despite promises on behalf of many of his Republican colleagues to filibuster any gun control legislation efforts, he believes that the issue "deserves a vote up or down," in an interview that aired live today, April 9, 2013, on "CBS THIS MORNING" on the CBS Television Network (7:00 AM – 9:00 AM). Watch the apperance in full below!
Isakson told co-hosts Norah O'Donnell, Gayle King and Charlie Rose that he believes President Obama is "reaching out more than in the past" to Republican members of Congress, and said that if the two sides "can find 70 or 80% common ground, that's a victory."
Excerpts from the interview are below.
O'DONNELL: We invited Senate Leader Mitch McConnell as well as 13 other Republican Senators who have vowed to filibuster any gun control legislation, all of them declined. Do you think your fellow Republicans owe the families of these Newtown victims a vote?
ISAKSON: I'll speak for myself on that question. There's no ambivalence on the gun issue, I think everyone knows what the issues are. We have not seen the final draft of the legislation that was produced, I understand, last night, but I think it deserves a vote up or down.
KING: We've heard, Senator, that you're planning to meet with the families later today. You know what they want. What do you plan to say to them?
ISAKSON: First of all, the heart and soul of every American goes out to the families of those who lost their lives at Sandy Hook. They deserve a right to be able to sit down and talk with me and I gave them that right and will be happy to meet with them.
