Blumenthal: We Will Not Give Up or Go Away
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) released the following statement this evening after the Senate voted on Democratic legislation to keep guns out of the hands of suspected terrorists and to close loopholes in the background check system.
“Despite this deeply disappointing vote, I am no less determined to work for common ground on commonsense measures to stem gun violence and stop terrorist extremist acts,” Blumenthal said. “We are not giving up or going away. We will not retreat or relent in our fight to bar violent extremists inspired or supported by our enemies abroad from purchasing firearms. Deadly military style semi-automatic assault weapons designed to kill as many people as possible as quickly as possible should remain on the battlefield where they belong – not in our nightclubs, movie theaters or elementary schools. The nation has reached a tipping point, even if the Senate today failed to heed and hear the American people, who overwhelmingly want commonsense, sensible measures like extending background checks and closing the terrorist gap.”
This evening, the Senate voted on four amendments, including two Democratic proposals to help keep Americans safe from gun violence, and two Republican proposals that fall short in that goal. The first Democratic proposal, led by Senator Feinstein, would have given law enforcement the necessary tools to prohibit known or suspected terrorists from purchasing guns. The second Democratic proposal, led by Blumenthal and his colleagues U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), would extend requirements to conduct background checks to all firearm sales, closing a large loophole that allows dangerous individuals to avoid background checks simply by purchasing weapons at a gun show or over the internet.
Video of Senator Blumenthal’s remarks on the Senate Floor before the votes is available to be viewed here and for download here.
Video of Senator Blumenthal’s remarks at a press conference following the votes is available here.
On Wednesday night of last week, and early Thursday morning, Blumenthal joined Murphy and Booker on the Senate Floor for nearly fifteen hours to call for immediate Senate action on commonsense gun violence prevention measures, including effective background checks and legislation to keep guns out of the hands of known or suspected terrorists. Throughout the day, they were joined by nearly forty of their Senate colleagues.
In the closing moments of a nearly 15-hour filibuster – just after 2 AM – Murphy announced that Senate Democrats received a commitment from Republicans to schedule the votes held this evening to close the terror gap and expand background checks for firearm purchases.
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