Isakson’s parting proposal on mass violence is worth a look When U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson let it be known that he planned to introduce one last big bill before his retirement at the end of this year, there was some speculation he might try to break the knot around background checks. The legislation Isakson introduced last week doesn’t get into that controversy — in fact it pointedly lumps firearms into a larger pool of “implements” that can be used to carry out “mass violence.”