Description of . Erica Lafferty (L) and Jillian Soto (R), who both lost relatives in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings, attend a news briefing with (rear, L-R): Senators Christopher Murphy (D-CT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Charles Schumer (D-NY) 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