to the curator of the state military museum where it will go on permanent display. i look at it as a gateway for growth for the community. i think what it is actually creating is a window of opportunity to attack other things that are confederate related. reporter: until recently calling for the confederate flag s removal in this state was considered political suicide. but all that changed with last month s killing of nine members of a historic african-american church in charleston. the alleged gunman an avowed white supremacist who had posed for photos with the battle flag. allow us to honor those veterans who gave their life in defense of this state, and let s move forward. reporter: calls for the flag s removal led to an emotional debate in the state house over whether the flag was a symbol of slavery or valor. but the tide turned when a republican related to the first president of the confederacy,
delivered this tearful speech. i am a descendent of jeffer son davis, okay? but that does not matter! it s not about jenny horn! it s about the people of south carolina who have demanded that this symbol of hate come off of the state house grounds! many south carolinians take price in the fact that last month s shooting at emanuel ame church was followed not by riots but displays of racial unity and calls for one state under one flag call that is were answered right here on the state house grounds. jonathan serrie in columbia thank you. here in washington republicans are engaged in damage control over an effort to keep the confederate flag at some very sensitive locations. correspondent doug mcelway has that part of the story from capitol hill. reporter: the debate in south carolina may have ended but it s just beginning in washington. to allow this flag to be sold to be displayed on federal
to the curator of the state military museum where it will go on permanent display. i look at it as a gateway for growth for the community. i think what it is actually creating is a window of opportunity to attack other things that are confederate related. reporter: until recently calling for the confederate flag s removal in this state was considered political suicide. but all that changed with last month s killing of nine members of a historic african-american church in charleston. the alleged gunman an avowed white supremacist who had posed for photos with the battle flag. allow us to honor those veterans who gave their life in defense of this state, and let s move forward. reporter: calls for the flag s removal led to an emotional debate in the state house over whether the flag was a symbol of slavery or valor. but the tide turned when a republican related to the first president of the confederacy,
land is unacceptable. reporter: the house floor erupted in acrimony thursday. at issue, a republican amendment that would allow one day a year on confederate memorial day the confederate flag to be placed on confederate tombstones in national cemeteries like arlington which contains an entire confederate section. iowa republican steve king whose ancestors fought for the union defended the amendment. when guy to germany and they ve outlawed the swastika i think we have a first amendment. that can t happen in the united states because we re open enough. we have to tolerate the desecration of old glory. reporter: under an onslaught from the congress black caucuses from other companies, as well as some republicans inincensed at the timing removed it. don t they understand it s an insult to 40 million african-americans? reporter: speaker john boehner opened the door to a review of the amendment. i actually think it s time
confederate flag is removed from the state house grounds. chief intelligence correspondent catherine herridge is here tonight with a story that s already inflaming people on both sides of the gun control debate. good evening, catherine. reporter: the fbi director said he won t basement confident about the became confident last night saying the federal background check system should have prevented dylan roof from use purchasing the gun in the shooting. a confusion over where a drug arrest took place. it meant the background check investigator never learned roof admitted to drug possession which would have automatically disqualified him from purchasing the weapon. on the day dylann roof was arrested the president did not blame the background check system. rather as facts were still being gathered mr. obama implied politics and the refusal of republicans to move on the gun debate was partly to blame. let s be clear. at some point we as a country will have to reckon with the