Washington, D.C. — Center for American Progress President Neera Tanden issued the following statement following the rejection of a number of common-sense gun violence prevention proposals by the Senate majority this afternoon:
Barely 24 hours after the worst mass shooting in the United States since the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012, a majority of senators rejected a number of common-sense measures to reduce gun violence and prevent easy access to guns by dangerous people. These are measures that continue to receive the support of a vast majority of Americans, from Democrats to Republicans to gun owners—and even National Rifle Association, or NRA, members—yet the majority of our representatives in Congress continue to place more value on the voices of the gun lobby than the voices of their constituents. We demand better from our elected officials than obstruction of measures that will save lives.
Among the common-sense gun amendments rejected by this Senate majority were efforts to prevent those with known ties to terrorism from legally purchasing guns—known as the terror gap—an idea that originated in the George W. Bush administration and has enjoyed bipartisan support. Senators also rejected a proposal to expand background checks, a policy that law enforcement officials and 90 percent of Americans support, including 83 percent of gun owners and 72 percent of NRA members.
For more information on this topic or to speak with an expert, contact Tom Caiazza at [email protected] or 202.481.7141.