Van Hollen: Failure of Background Check Amendment is ‘Sickening Display of Political Cowardice’

The U.S. Senate rejected expanded background checks on firearm sales Wednesday, rejecting bipartisan legislation endorsed by President Barack Obama.

The bipartisan effort of Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Pat Toomey (R-PA), failed 54-46, falling short of the 60-vote threshold needed to break a filibuster, The Huffington Post reported.

The measure would have expanded the current check system to cover sales of weapons on the Internet and at gun shows. 

Opponents said the expansion would have set the stage for a national registry of gun owners and said that it would not have prevented tragedies such as the Newtown  shootings, HuffPo reports (see Gun Bill Background Check Amendment Fails, Other Key Provisions Follow).

In response, U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen, (D-Dist. 8) of Kensington, issued the following statement:

“Today, in a sickening display of political cowardice, an undemocratic minority of senators blocked a series of bills that would help reduce gun violence, including a bipartisan compromise proposal to close gaping loopholes in current law and keep guns out of the hands of criminals and people with severe mental illnesses – a proposal that has the support of 90 percent of Americans.  It is a sad day for our nation when an undemocratic minority bows to the special interest Washington, DC gun lobby to block an up-or-down vote on a common-sense idea that the vast majority of people support.

“We have a long tradition in this country of responsible gun ownership – but in the wake of too many tragedies, including the massacre in Newtown, we are clearly not doing enough to keep our citizens safe.  We cannot allow politics and misinformation to stand in the way of what is best for our nation, and I will keep fighting for this issue on behalf of our children, our families, and our community.”

On Thursday, Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) issued a statement echoing a similar sentiment:

“The safety of our children and communities should never be put at risk by partisan gridlock. It is outrageous that the Senate could not come together on common sense gun safety legislation despite public support for so many of these measures.  I support universal background checks for all firearms buyers but I was willing to accept a bipartisan compromise that at least moved us in the right direction.  Ninety percent of Americans – Democrats, Republicans, NRA members and others – support some kind of expanded background checks, yet the Senate fell short of the supermajority needed to approve a bipartisan compromise.  

“I am sympathetic to the interests of legitimate hunters and collectors, but we cannot allow political fear to take hold when almost 3,500 individuals have lost their lives to gun violence in the U.S. just since the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary. We should reinstate the Federal ban on military style assault weapons. We should prohibit high-capacity ammunition magazines, clips and other mechanisms that hold more than 10 rounds at a time. We also must take steps together to strengthen our mental health system, make our schools safer, crack down on gun traffickers, straw purchasers, and reduce the glorification of violence. As lawmakers, we cannot stand idle after each tragedy, failing to take action. We know that we won’t be able to stop every tragedy, but we absolutely can save lives.”

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