17 April 2013

PRESS RELEASE
The Honorable Jim Himes
Connecticut’s 4th District

April 17, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Elizabeth Kerr, (202) 225-5541

Himes Statement on Senate Failure
to Pass Background Check Expansion

WASHINGTON, DC—Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4) released the following statement regarding the Senate’s failure to pass legislation that would have made it more difficult for criminals and the mentally ill to purchase a gun. The bill – a bipartisan compromise crafted by Senators Pat Toomey (R-PA) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) – would have expanded existing background checks to gun shows and online sales, thereby closing an easily exploited loophole used by criminals to purchase firearms without having to pass a background check.

“I am outraged that the Senate failed to pass this commonsense legislation. With more than 90% of Americans supporting background checks, it is simply unfathomable that this obvious legislation did not garner the needed votes to pass the Senate and move onto the House of Representatives. The victims of Newtown – and the over 3,000 people who have been killed by gun violence since then – deserve better than that.

If you cannot pass a background check, you should not own a gun. I am bitterly disappointed in this Congress' inability to pass commonsense gun violence prevention legislation, but I remain determined to work with my colleagues to ensure safer schools and communities for our children.”
 
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Congressman Jim Himes represents Connecticut’s 4th District, which includes the communities of Bridgeport, Darien, Easton, Fairfield,  Greenwich, Monroe, New Canaan, Norwalk, Oxford, Redding, Ridgefield, Shelton, Stamford, Trumbull,  Weston, Westport, and Wilton.


Alexander Laska | Press Assistant & Legislative Correspondent | Congressman Jim Himes
119 Cannon | Tel: 202.225.5541 | Fax: 202.225.9629

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