Leader of Newtown Group Condemns Senate Vote to Roll Back Sandy Hook Gun Rule

SANDY HOOK, CT — In response to the U.S. Senate's vote on legislation that repeals a regulation issued in response to the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre, The chairwoman of the Newtown Action Alliance issued a statement Wednesday condemning congress for the move.

By a count of 57 to 43, the Senate approved legislation that repeals an Obama administration rule requiring the Social Security Administration to submit information about mentally impaired recipients so they can be added to a list of people banned from buying a firearm. The bill now heads to President Donald Trump's desk, who is expected to sign it in to law.

In addition to the statement, the group sent a tweet to Trump's non-official @realDonaldTrump twitter account asking the President to veto the legislation. The tweet also encourages citizens to follow suit.

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Po Murray, the Chairwoman of the group formed after the events of December 2012 which fights to reduce gun violence in America, issued a lengthy statement condemning the Senate's move. The full statement can be read below.

“After the Sandy Hook shooting, we traveled to Washington D.C. numerous times with hundreds of heartbroken families directly impacted by gun violence. For the last four years, we implored Congress to take action to end gun violence in our nation. The majority of Republican Senators incessantly argued that guns do not play a role in gun violence. They repeatedly told us to focus on mental illness and the enforcement of existing gun laws to tackle gun violence. Regrettably, their words were only meaningless platitudes. Today, 57 Senators (52 Republicans, 4 Democrats and one Independent) chose to roll back the 2007 NICS Improvement Amendment Act to prevent the Social Security Administration (SSA) from submitting the names of the SSA beneficiaries who may be a danger to themselves or others to the National Instant Background Check System.

We know firsthand that an assault weapon in the hands of a person with severe mental illness is extremely deadly and it will devastate multiple families and an entire community in less than five minutes. We firmly believe all members of Congress are keenly aware of this fact however the majority in Congress, including some Democrats, are willing to sacrifice 30,000 Americans every year, as long as they can hold onto their political seats on Capitol Hill. They have sold their souls to the NRA. They do not represent their constituents who overwhelmingly support the measures to strengthen the background check system. Instead of educating their constituents that keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous people is a matter of public safety, they have made a political calculus that receiving the NRA endorsement and political contributions will help them win elections. Therefore, those who were elected to protect all Americans, end up protecting the NRA and the gun industry profits instead. Even gun owners are in harm's way. Many gun owners commit suicide or lose their children due to unsecured guns.

It is likely that the President will sign this bill into law given that he has pledged his support for the NRA but we can’t sit idly by. We encourage all Americans to tweet at the President @realDonaldTrump to ask him to veto these bills.

“.@realDonaldTrump, Over 100,000 Americans are killed or injured by guns every year. Don't weaken NICS. Please veto H.J.Res.40 & S.J.Res.14.”

We also encourage all Americans to do some soul searching and make gun violence prevention a priority in the next election cycles. Regrettably, until we elect Congressional members and a President who value our constitutional right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, we will be faced with more bloodshed on our own soil. ”