Community Corner

State Leaders Criticize U.S. Senate's Vote on Gun Measure

The governor and members of Connecticut's congressional delegation are upset about the Senate's vote on Wednesday.

This article was written and reported by Associate Regional Editor Eileen McNamara. It was posted by Jason Vallee.

Connecticut’s political leaders are roundly criticizing the U.S. Senate’s failure Wednesday to pass a gun control proposal that grew out of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings in Newtown Dec. 14.

Echoing President Barack Obama’s comment that the Senate’s refusal to expand  criminal background checks for gun purchases was “shameful,” Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said the Senate’s refusal to support the bill defies common sense.

“On the issue of enhanced background checks, the American people are clear – 92 percent support them. The real question is how do the senators that voted against this most basic, common sense reform justify their vote against this measure?” Malloy said.

“There is much more that needs to be done on the issue of gun violence prevention. But when the Senate cannot come together on an issue that is supported by the vast majority of Americans, there is little to no hope that common sense will prevail. The members who voted against this proposal should be ashamed of themselves.”

The Senate voted 54-46 in favor of the background check proposal for gun purchases, but the vote margin was not great enough to stave off a filibuster on the bill. The vote angered Obama, who gave a speech, flanked by relatives of some of the Newtown victims, in which he labeled gun lobbyists "liars" and said it was a "shameful day for Washington."

Joseph Courtney, Connecticut’s Second District congressman, said the fight for national gun control reform is not over.

“As Mark Barden, one of the Newtown parents who has made gun safety and school security his mission, said after today’s vote: ‘Our hearts are broken. Our spirits are not.’ These parents and family members have been courageous and strong throughout this effort,” Courtney said.

“Today is certainly a disappointment for them and me, but the push for common sense background checks does not end today. As history has shown time and time again, great causes like civil rights—causes worth fighting for—have taken time to pass and overcome the cynical abuse of Senate rules. The example of leadership set by the Newtown families will prevail at the end of the day.”

Elizabeth Esty, a Cheshire Democrat who represents Connecticut’s Fifth District, expressed frustration of the Senate’s vote. “I’m outraged and astounded that a minority of the Senate has refused to allow a simple up or down vote on a reasonable, common sense proposal to enhance criminal background checks and save lives. I’m astounded that they have ignored the voices of Newtown families. I’m astounded that they have ignored the voices of families affected by gun violence across the country. I’m astounded that they have ignored the voices of the 92 percent of the American people who support enhanced criminal background checks.

“This is far from over. Because we can’t sit by and allow the loss of precious children, of talented and courageous educators to go unanswered – because we can’t allow the loss of countless innocent victims, of innocent children, to continue, we cannot and must not give up.”

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