Senator Chris Murphy, Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action Respond to President Trump Signing Repeal of Social Security Administration Rule Requiring Submission of Records of Prohibited Purchasers Into the Background Check System

WASHINGTON – Senator Chris Murphy, Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America released the following statements today in response to President Donald Trump signing into law a repeal of the Social Security Administration rule on record submission to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) for disability recipients prohibited from possessing guns due to significant mental illness.

STATEMENT FROM SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY:

“Republicans always say we don’t need new gun laws, we just need to enforce the laws already on the books. But the bill signed into law today undermines enforcement of existing laws that Congress passed to make sure the background check system had complete information. Ninety-percent of Americans support closing loopholes to improve the background check system, but those loopholes just got bigger.”

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

“This law, which weakens the background check system, is just the first item on the gun lobby’s wish list. NRA headquarters is pushing more guns, for more people, in more places – gutting public safety laws and putting American lives at risk.”

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

“President Trump’s signature on his first piece of gun legislation was bought and paid for by the extreme leadership of the NRA, which spent $30 million on the presidential race to get their seat at the table. Today’s move degrades a system built to enforce existing laws that keeps guns out of dangerous hands and is just one piece of the gun lobby’s extreme agenda aimed at weakening our nation’s gun laws. But, America is paying attention and we will continue to stand and fight back for our children’s safety – whether that’s in Washington D.C. or back home in our state houses.”