Meng Issues Statement on Senate's Defeat of Background Checks for Gun Purchases

Statement

U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) this evening issued the following statement on the Senate rejecting the bipartisan plan to expand background checks for gun purchases:

"The Senate's rejection of expanded background checks for gun purchases is extremely disappointing, and it's a major setback in our efforts to keep guns out of the hands of those who should not possess them.

While the Senate measure did not go as far as I would have preferred, it still would have prevented dangerous people from getting ahold of firearms. Shame on those who worked to defeat it.

In the wake of the Newtown massacre, and with all the senseless and tragic shootings throughout our nation, it's truly shocking that we cannot come together to pass reasonable, common sense legislation to reduce gun violence.

As one of the Sandy Hook fathers noted, the NRA says guns don't kill people, people kill people. So let's have background checks on people.

It's time for those who oppose background checks to finally wake-up and smell the coffee. It's time for them to pay attention to the reality that 90 percent of the U.S. population is in favor of universal background checks. How many more innocent people have to die or be seriously wounded until they get the message?"

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