ARS Urges Bipartisan Action on New Senate Proposal to Reduce Gun Violence

October 8, 2015

October 8, 2015 – Americans for Responsible Solutions, the gun violence prevention organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and retired astronaut Captain Mark Kelly, today urged bipartisan action on Senate proposals unveiled today that would would help reduce gun violence in the United States. The proposals include calls for closing the loopholes in our laws that let domestic abusers, felons, and the dangerously mentally ill to buy guns without a background check; strengthening the records contained in our federal background check system; taking some commonsense steps to keep guns out of the hands of abusers and stalkers; and addressing illegal gun trafficking.

“As the tragedy last week at Umpqua Community College made so painfully clear, our country has a gun violence problem. It is long past due that our leaders in Congress take bipartisan action to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people, make our communities safer from gun violence, and protect the rights of responsible, law-abiding Americans,” said Peter Ambler, Founder, 501(c)(4) Director at Americans for Responsible Solutions. “That’s why we are encouraged to see so many United States senators having a serious, honest conversation about what should be done to combat gun violence in our communities and laying out some commonsense steps to make our country a safer place to live. Now, we want to hear every United States senator’s plan for exactly what they would, or would not, do to reduce gun violence in our country. Would they close – or protect – the loopholes that let felons and domestic abusers buy guns without a background check? Would they close – or protect – the loophole that lets some convicted stalkers legally buy and own guns? Would they make gun trafficking a federal crime and ensure stiffer penalties for gun traffickers, corrupt gun dealers and straw purchasers? And then it is time for bipartisan action, and a vote that lets their constituents see exactly where their voices in Congress are on reducing gun violence – on the side of the corporate gun lobby, or on the side of the American people.”