Everytown, Moms, Gun Violence Survivors Condemn Senate for Blocking Efforts to Keep Guns Out of the Hands of Terrorists, Dangerous People

WASHINGTON — Everytown for Gun Safety, the country’s largest gun violence prevention organization, and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America – part of Everytown for Gun Safety – tonight released the following statements from Everytown President John Feinblatt, Moms Demand Action Founder Shannon Watts and Newtown shooting survivor Erica Lafferty Smegielski after the U.S. Senate failed to close two critical gaps in our nation’s gun laws. The legislation would have closed the deadly loophole that makes it easy for criminals to avoid background checks by purchasing guns from unlicensed sellers online and at gun shows and closed the Terror Gap, which allows suspected terrorists to legally purchase guns.

STATEMENT FROM JOHN FEINBLATT, PRESIDENT OF EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY:

“Tonight, far too many senators once again fell for the NRA’s games instead of standing up for public safety and national security. Congress has an obligation to get its work done and help protect Americans from gun violence – rather than try to protect gun lobby politicians in an election year. This week, we saw gun sense champions change the political calculus and force a vote in the Senate. That calculus is changing across the country as well – and together, the American people will be voting on this issue in November.”

STATEMENT FROM SHANNON WATTS, FOUNDER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:

“I am furious that our Congress has once again failed to act to save American lives — even as we reel from the largest mass shooting in modern American history. But Americans who support gun safety should not be discouraged. As we saw with the courageous filibuster last week, and as our 112,000 petition signatures and 62,000 calls to Congress demonstrate, Americans are demanding our lawmakers disarm hate. Every single political leader who failed us – Republicans and Democrats alike – can consider themselves on notice that we will remember their inaction when we vote in November. We are making gun safety a litmus test for political leaders, and we will only support candidates willing to stand up to the dangerous agenda of an extremist gun lobby: guns for anyone, anywhere, anytime – no questions asked. Even for terrorists. This is a marathon – not a sprint – but rest assured that we are winning.”

STATEMENT FROM ERICA LAFFERTY SMEGIELSKI, WHOSE MOTHER DAWN LAFFERTY HOCHSPRUNG, THE PRINCIPAL AT SANDY HOOK SCHOOL, DIED WHILE PROTECTING HER STUDENTS. ERICA IS A SENIOR OUTREACH ASSOCIATE AT EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY AND MEMBER OF THE EVERYTOWN SURVIVOR NETWORK:

“Today, I am livid that Congress did not do its job – despite the historic filibuster and despite the public outrage for our Congress to take meaningful action. I am mad – and disappointed – but I’ve been here before and I know that our focus now turns to making 2016 the year of gun safety. Gun violence survivors like me, moms and everyday Americans refuse to accept gun violence, coupled with inaction by our Congress, as the new normal. The tide is turning and we will not forget the spineless politicians and their votes for decoy bills when we head to the polls in November. Our votes give us real power and will force politicians to listen, rather than continuing to bow to the gun lobby.”

More information on the Orlando mass shooting is available here.
More information on the Terror Gap is available here.
More information on background checks is available here.
More information on gun violence in America “By The Numbers” is available here.