Kamala Harris: Gun control action is 'literally in the hands' of Mitch McConnell

"This is, actually, literally in the hands of one person in terms of this legislative action, and it's Mitch McConnell," Harris told CNN's Wolf Blitzer on "The Situation Room." "And I would hope and pray that he understands that he actually has the power to do the right thing here and that he will do the right thing. But it doesn't sound like he's prepared to do that."

"That's irresponsible," said Harris, a senator from California.

The mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, have prompted congressional Democrats to call on McConnell to reconvene the Senate -- which began its August recess only days ago -- to pass gun control legislation. And while McConnell said in a statement Monday that "Senate Republicans are prepared to do our part," Congress has long struggled to pass gun control legislation, even in the aftermath of mass shootings.

Harris spoke Monday at a conference for UnidosUS, which calls itself the largest Hispanic civil rights organization in the US. Describing her conversations with voters, Harris said there is a "heightened volume" of concern among the group. The alleged shooter in El Paso is believed to have authored a racist, anti-immigrant document targeting Hispanics.

"I'm hearing what I have been hearing, frankly, for the last two years, but in a heightened volume today as we all mourn what has happened in our country. I'm hearing a combination of things. I'm hearing fear," she said on CNN. "I'm hearing outrage, and I'm hearing also a recommitment to fight, and to fight for the best of who we are."

Harris added: "I'm hearing the fear that comes from family members and parents who are concerned that if they are going shopping for school supplies on a Saturday, weekends before school starts, that they might be slaughtered because of a white supremacist. These are the things I'm hearing, and we need a president of the United States who says, 'I will work in every way possible so that the people of our country will not live in fear.' "

In a televised address earlier Monday, Trump had called on the US to "condemn racism, bigotry and white supremacy" without acknowledging his own racist and divisive rhetoric. He did not mention background check legislation despite saying in brief remarks to reporters Sunday that "perhaps more has to be done" to prevent gun violence.

Harris on Monday also reaffirmed her campaign promise from April that if she's elected president she will take executive action on gun control if Congress doesn't pass legislation within her first 100 days in office.

"Why am I prepared to do this? It is time to take action. Words are not enough. Beautiful speeches are not enough. Great ideas are not enough. Grand gestures are not enough. We need to take action. The people of our country deserve it," she said.

CNN's Devan Cole and Caroline Kelly contributed to this report.

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