U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), (3rd R), Christopher Murphy (D-CT) (2nd R) and Charles Schumer (D-NY) (R) meet with family members of gun violence victims in Washington April 11, 2013. The U.S. Senate cleared the way on Thursday for an emotional, weeks-long debate on proposals to curb gun violence, rejecting an effort by conservative Republicans to block consideration of gun-control legislation prompted by December's Newtown school massacre. REUTERS/Gary Cameron (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST)