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. 14A 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.