Senators clash over appeals to take action in wake of mass shootings in Boulder and Atlanta
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10.49am GMT
Background checks and cool-off periods have been mentioned for a long time in US politics as a way of slowing down gun purchases. Overnight the Associated Press have reported that the suspect accused of opening fire inside a crowded Colorado supermarket was a 21-year-old man who allegedly purchased an assault weapon less than a week earlier.
Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa bought the weapon on 16 March, six days before the attack at a King Soopers store in Boulder that killed 10 people, including a police officer, according to an arrest affidavit. It was not immediately known where the gun was purchased.
Related: Boulder shootings: suspect allegedly bought assault rifle after ban on sale was blocked
10.41am GMT
If you needed a refresher course on the arguments Republicans use to oppose any kind of gun restrictions after mass shooting events, then Sen Ted Cruz was on hand yesterday. Overnight Aaron Blake delivered this for the Washington Post:
While there has certainly been resistance to gun restrictions even shortly after tragedies in the past, generally that opposition takes a while to build. Lawmakers don’t want to be seen as prejudging potential solutions with emotions still raw.
By contrast, on Tuesday Sen Ted Cruz angrily hit back at those pushing new restrictions and those who criticized the restrictions’ opponents, accusing them of “ridiculous theater.”
10.34am GMT
In the aftermath of the shootings in Boulder and Atlanta over the last few days, gun control measures are right back in the forefront of US politics. Yesterday Joe Biden directly appealed for lawmakers to enact measures that are already waiting. Annie Karni and Catie Edmondson report on his efforts – and where they might falter – for the New York Times:
In brief, somber remarks from the White House, Mr. Biden called on the Senate to pass a ban on assault weapons and to close background check loopholes, saying that doing so would be “common sense steps that will save lives in the future.”
“This is not and should not be a partisan issue — it is an American issue,” Mr. Biden said. “We have to act.”
10.32am GMT
Welcome to our live coverage of US politics for Wednesday. Here’s a catch-up on where we are, and some of what is in the diary for today…