SHAHEEN STATEMENT ON DEFEAT OF MANCHIN-TOOMEY LEGISLATION

(Washington, DC) - Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) released the following statement after the Senate failed to advance the Manchin-Toomey background check legislation aimed at reducing gun violence:  

“In New Hampshire we have a long tradition of safe and legal firearm ownership and that is a tradition I support and respect,” said Shaheen. “But, as Americans, we also have a responsibility to work to reduce gun violence and to prevent horrible tragedies like the Newtown shooting.

“Conducting background checks on individuals seeking to purchase firearms is a matter of common sense and the Manchin-Toomey bill provided a bipartisan framework to help meet that objective. This proposal represented a pragmatic and sensible way to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people while protecting the rights of law-abiding citizens and I am disappointed that this legislation failed to advance,” Shaheen added. “I am hopeful that we can continue this debate and in the future, move forward with policies that effectively reduce gun violence while safeguarding the rights of law-abiding citizens.”

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