title: Durbin blasts NRA for 'celebrating' gun vote
content: ( CNN ) – The No . 2 Democrat in the Senate criticized the National Rifle Association for cheering the defeat of a recent bipartisan gun control measure and expressed hope that the “ political sentiment ” will change in the upper chamber so the legislation can be brought up again .
  “ The National Rifle Association can go to Texas and celebrate defeating that measure , but they certainly shouldn ’ t celebrate when they look at the carnage that takes place virtually every day in America because convicted felons have guns , ” Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois said Sunday on CNN ’ s “ State of the Union . ”
  He was referring to the organization ’ s annual meeting this weekend in Houston , where the recent gun control debate was a key theme among speeches by high-profile conservatives . Speakers praised the audience for lobbying their lawmakers to vote against gun control measures and encouraged them to keep up the fight .
  `` We are in the midst of a once-in-a-generation fight for everything we care about . We have a chance to secure our freedom for a generation , or to lose it forever , '' NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre said Saturday .
  `` We must remain vigilant , ever resolute , and steadfastly growing and preparing for the even more critical battles that loom before us , '' he said .
  One of the main provisions considered the most likely to pass would have expanded the background check system to include private sales at gun shows and online . In the April 17 vote , however , the Senate fell short of the 60 votes needed to move forward with the measure . Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid shelved the overall gun control bill to allow more time for negotiations and vowed to bring it up again .
  The defeat was seen as a major victory among anti-gun control advocates and among those in the gun lobby , who argued that the measure would not have done much to help prevent mass shootings like those seen in Newtown , Connecticut , and Aurora , Colorado , last year .
  Durbin , the Senate ’ s majority whip , said the legislation needs five more votes in order to pass but said it can be an uphill battle in the Senate .
  `` What we need to see is a change in political sentiment within the Senate . We need to pick up five more votes , and that 's quite a task , I might add , as whip in the Senate , but we can do this . I hope the American people do n't give up . I know the president has n't given up , '' Durbin told CNN 's chief political correspondent Candy Crowley .
  Watch State of the Union with Candy Crowley Sundays at 9am ET . For the latest from State of the Union click here .
content_original: 6 years ago
  
  (CNN) – The No. 2 Democrat in the Senate criticized the National Rifle Association for cheering the defeat of a recent bipartisan gun control measure and expressed hope that the “political sentiment” will change in the upper chamber so the legislation can be brought up again.
  
  “The National Rifle Association can go to Texas and celebrate defeating that measure, but they certainly shouldn’t celebrate when they look at the carnage that takes place virtually every day in America because convicted felons have guns,” Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
  
  
  
  Follow @politicalticker Follow @KilloughCNN
  
  He was referring to the organization’s annual meeting this weekend in Houston, where the recent gun control debate was a key theme among speeches by high-profile conservatives. Speakers praised the audience for lobbying their lawmakers to vote against gun control measures and encouraged them to keep up the fight.
  
  "We are in the midst of a once-in-a-generation fight for everything we care about. We have a chance to secure our freedom for a generation, or to lose it forever," NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre said Saturday.
  
  "We must remain vigilant, ever resolute, and steadfastly growing and preparing for the even more critical battles that loom before us," he said.
  
  One of the main provisions considered the most likely to pass would have expanded the background check system to include private sales at gun shows and online. In the April 17 vote, however, the Senate fell short of the 60 votes needed to move forward with the measure. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid shelved the overall gun control bill to allow more time for negotiations and vowed to bring it up again.
  
  The defeat was seen as a major victory among anti-gun control advocates and among those in the gun lobby, who argued that the measure would not have done much to help prevent mass shootings like those seen in Newtown, Connecticut, and Aurora, Colorado, last year.
  
  Durbin, the Senate’s majority whip, said the legislation needs five more votes in order to pass but said it can be an uphill battle in the Senate.
  
  "What we need to see is a change in political sentiment within the Senate. We need to pick up five more votes, and that's quite a task, I might add, as whip in the Senate, but we can do this. I hope the American people don't give up. I know the president hasn't given up," Durbin told CNN's chief political correspondent Candy Crowley.
  
  - CNN's Dana Davidsen contributed to this report.
  
  Watch State of the Union with Candy Crowley Sundays at 9am ET. For the latest from State of the Union click here.