NEWTOWN ACTION ALLIANCE CONDEMNS SENATE FOR WEAKENING THE BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM ON GUN SALES
For Immediate Release
February 15, 2017
Contact:
John Kelley
917-679-6475
jkelley@newtownaction.org
NEWTOWN ACTION ALLIANCE CONDEMNS SENATE FOR WEAKENING THE BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM ON GUN SALES
Newtown, CT-Newtown Action Alliance released the following statement after the Senate voted to approve S.J. Res. 14, A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Social Security Administration relating to Implementation of the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007.
Statement by Po Murray, Chairwoman of Newtown Action Alliance
“After the Sandy Hook shooting, we traveled to Washington D.C. numerous times with hundreds of heartbroken families directly impacted by gun violence. For the last four years, we implored Congress to take action to end gun violence in our nation. The majority of Republican Senators incessantly argued that guns do not play a role in gun violence. They repeatedly told us to focus on mental illness and the enforcement of existing gun laws to tackle gun violence. Regrettably, their words were only meaningless platitudes. Today, 57 Senators (52 Republicans, 4 Democrats and one Independent) chose to roll back the 2007 NICS Improvement Amendment Act to prevent the Social Security Administration (SSA) from submitting the names of the SSA beneficiaries who may be a danger to themselves or others to the National Instant Background Check System.
We know firsthand that an assault weapon in the hands of a person with severe mental illness is extremely deadly and it will devastate multiple families and an entire community in less than five minutes. We firmly believe all members of Congress are keenly aware of this fact however the majority in Congress, including some Democrats, are willing to sacrifice 30,000 Americans every year, as long as they can hold onto their political seats on Capitol Hill. They have sold their souls to the NRA. They do not represent their constituents who overwhelmingly support the measures to strengthen the background check system. Instead of educating their constituents that keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous people is a matter of public safety, they have made a political calculus that receiving the NRA endorsement and political contributions will help them win elections. Therefore, those who were elected to protect all Americans, end up protecting the NRA and the gun industry profits instead. Even gun owners are in harm’s way. Many gun owners commit suicide or lose their children due to unsecured guns.
It is likely that the President will sign this bill into law given that he has pledged his support for the NRA but we can’t sit idly by. We encourage all Americans to tweet at the President @realDonaldTrump to ask him to veto these bills.
“.@realDonaldTrump, Over 100,000 Americans are killed or injured by guns every year. Don’t weaken NICS. Please veto H.J.Res.40 & S.J.Res.14.”
We also encourage all Americans to do some soul searching and make gun violence prevention a priority in the next election cycles. Regrettably, until we elect Congressional members and a President who value our constitutional right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, we will be faced with more bloodshed on our own soil. ”
Voted YES for S.J. Res. 14
State
Election 2018
Election 2020
Election 2022
Republican
Richard C. Shelby
Alabama
x
Republican
Luther Strange
Alabama
x
Republican
LIsa Murkowski
Alaska
x
Republican
Dan Sullivan
Alaska
x
Republican
John McCain
Arizona
x
Republican
Jeff Flake
Arizona
x
Republican
Tom Cotton
Arkansas
x
Republican
John Boozman
Arkansas
x
Republican
Cory Gardner
Colorado
x
Republican
Marco Rubio
Florida
x
Republican
David Perdue
Georgia
x
Republican
Johnny Isakson
Georgia
x
Republican
Jim Risch
Idaho
x
Republican
Michael D. Crapo
Idaho
x
Republican
Todd Young
Indiana
x
Democrat
Joe Donnelly
Indiana
x
Republican
Joni Ernst
Iowa
x
Republican
Charles E. Grassley
Iowa
x
Republican
Jerry Moran
Kansas
x
Republican
Pat Roberts
Kansas
x
Republican
Rand Paul
Kentucky
x
Republican
Mitch McConnell
Kentucky
x
Republican
Bill Cassidy
Louisiana
x
Republican
John Kennedy
Louisiana
x
Republican
Susan Collins
Maine
x
Independent
Angus King
Maine
x
Republican
Roger Wicker
Mississippi
x
Republican
Thad Cochran
Mississippi
x
Republican
Steve Daines
Montana
x
Republican
Roy Blunt Mo.
Montana
x
Democrat
John Tester
Montana
x
Republican
Deb Fischer
Nebraska
x
Republican
Ben Sasse
Nebraska
x
Republican
Dean Heller
Nevada
x
Republican
Richard M. Burr
North Carolina
x
Republican
Thom Tillis
North Carolina
x
Republican
John Hoeven
North Dakota
x
Democrat
Heidi HeitKamp
North Dakota
x
Republican
Rob Portman
Ohio
x
Republican
James M. Inhofe
Oklahoma
x
Republican
James Lankford
Oklahoma
x
Republican
Patrick J. Toomey
Pennsylvania
x
Republican
Tim Scott
South Carolina
x
Republican
Lindsey Graham
South Carolina
x
Republican
Michael Rounds
South Dakota
x
Republican
John Thune
South Dakota
x
Republican
Bob Corker
Tennessee
x
Republican
Lamar Alexander
Tennessee
x
Republican
Ted Cruz
Texas
x
Republican
John Cornyn
Texas
x
Republican
Mike Lee
Utah
x
Republican
Orrin G. Hatch
Utah
x
Democrat
Joe Manchin III
West Virginia
x
Republican
Shelley Moore Capito
West Virginia
x
Republican
Ron Johnson
Wisconsin
x
Republican
Michael B. Enzi
Wyoming
x
Republican
John Barrasso
Wyoming
x
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The Newtown Action Alliance (http://alliance.newtownaction.org) is a grassroots organization formed after the tragic shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School. It works to make America’s children, families, and all citizens safer through legislative and cultural change that will reduce gun violence in our nation.