Democratic Senator Ed Markey calls to expand the Supreme Court because of 'illegitimate, far-right' justices' 'threat to gun safety' and to 'take back seats' Republicans and Trump 'STOLE'

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Sen. Ed Markey called for packing the Supreme Court on Thursday as a stalwart against the 'illegitimate far-right' and claiming the court could thwart any efforts to pass gun control. 

'We have to take very seriously the threat which an illegitimate, far-right Supreme Court poses to gun safety in our country,' the Massachusetts Democrat said during a press conference with 'Every Town for Gun Safety' outside the Capitol. 

He then claimed that Trump and Republicans 'stole' two Supreme Court seats by confirming Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.

'We have to expand the Supreme Court to get back the two stolen seats that the Republicans and Donald Trump took from the American people.' 

And on Twitter, Markey called for the Senate to abolish the filibuster, the 60-vote hurdle that holds up quashes most legislation. 

'Congress has a moral responsibility to address gun violence, but Republicans refuse to act. I am standing with activists and advocates from @EveryTown to demand that we abolish the filibuster and pass comprehensive gun safety legislation now.'

Sen. Ed Markey called for packing the Supreme Court on Thursday as a stalwart against the 'illegitimate far-right' and claiming the court could thwart any efforts to pass gun control

'We have to take very seriously the threat which an illegitimate, far-right Supreme Court poses to gun safety in our country,' the Connecticut Democrat said

Markey also took aim at the National Rifle Association, which is hosting a summit this weekend that will be attended by conservative heavyweights like Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Sen. Ted Cruz and former President Trump. He claimed that the NRA had a 'vice-like grip' on the GOP, quipping that NRA stands for 'Not Relevant Anymore.'

The Supreme Court has in recent years largely stayed away from gun issues, to the frustration of gun rights advocates, and even some justices. Justice Clarence Thomas declared in 2018: 'Second Amendment is a disfavored right in this court.'

But currently the court is weighing opinions on a challenge to a New York state gun restriction that requires residents to obtain a license to carry a concealed weapon and demonstrate 'proper cause' to obtain the permit. Such proper cause must include a 'special or unique danger to their life.' 

In 2008 the high court held for the first time that the Second Amendment allows Americans to keep and bear arms simply to defend their home. 

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., is working with his Republican counterparts to court votes on gun legislation 

'Nothing in our opinion should be taken to cast doubt on longstanding prohibitions on the possession of firearms by felons and the mentally ill, or laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places such as schools and government buildings,' then-Justice Antonin Scalia added in the majority opinion. 

While Markey set his sights on the high court, it is Congress that has failed to pass a major gun control bill in more than a decade. It allowed the 1994 assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazine ban to 'sunset' in 2004, failing to renew it. 

The last time the Senate gave a meaningful effort at passing gun reform was in 2013, when Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W. Va., and Pat Toomey, R-Pa., garnered only four Republican votes for their background checks bill, the filibuster dooming it in the Senate. 

In 2018 and again in 2021 bipartisan groups of senators have brought forth 'red flag' laws that would allow law enforcement to take away weapons from a person that a court deemed to be a danger, though neither bills made their way through. 

Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Thursday that he told colleagues to be ready for a vote on gun control legislation after the Memorial Day week-long recess.  He said he was not scheduling a vote this week on two House-passed bills to give Democratic negotiators, namely Sen. Chris Murphy, more time to work with Republicans on what they could support as part of background check and red flag legislation. 

The Democratic leader expressed little hope in the negotiations, but vowed to hold a vote even if it was doomed to fail. 

'If these negotiations do not bear any fruit, the Senate will vote on gun safety legislation when we return. But our hope, even amidst our deep skepticism, is that during this week Democrats and Republicans at long last will come to agree on something meaningful that will reduce gun violence in a real way in America,' Schumer said. 

Murphy, D-Conn., said this week he's reached out to Toomey and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Me., who also voted for the 2013 bill, but according to Schumer, success is a 'slim prospect.'