Blumenthal Statement Following Senate Vote on Bipartisan Compromise to Prevent Terrorists from buying Guns

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) released the following statement today after a bipartisan majority of the Senate defeated an attempt to set aside a compromise amendment to prevent gun sales to suspected terrorists. Blumenthal will continue to press for an up-or-down vote on the common-sense measure.

“The fact that we are having votes is progress – demonstrating bipartisan, majority support for common-sense gun violence legislation in the Senate and showing that the vice-like grip of the NRA is beginning to crack. But that grip can only truly be broken by the voters. The American people are rising up – we saw it during the House sit-in, during the Senate Filibuster, and in the outpouring of support we have seen for these efforts.”

“Unlike Republicans in Congress, the overwhelming majority of the American people want to stop terrorists from buying guns and keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people. Over the last two weeks, Republicans’ professed devotion to keeping Americans safe from ISIL has been revealed to be nothing but bluster and bravado – ringing especially hollow today as it’s been made clear no issue is more important to Republicans than their fealty to the gun lobby. We will continue to press for a true vote on the Collins amendment and other crucial legislation to address the ongoing epidemic of gun violence.”

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