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Statement

MomsRising Slams Senate for Vote Against Gun Safety Measures

June 20, 2016
Gun Control

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

Statement from Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, executive director and CEO of MomsRising.org, on the U.S. Senate’s failure today to pass common sense gun safety reform measures
"It's easy to think about giving up in times like these. But we can't. The current situation is simply not okay. More than 20,000 children are injured or killed by guns each year, more  than 33,000 people are killed by guns each year, and just last week 49 people in Orlando were gunned down in a LGBTQ+ safe space on Latino night by a mass shooter using a military-style assault weapon with a high capacity magazine that has no legitimate civilian use.
 
"Yet today the U.S. Senate voted down four gun safety measures, centered on expanding background checks for gun purchases which more than 90% of the public supports. The votes fell mostly along party lines with Republicans blocking progress. This is not okay. 
 
"The tens of thousands of victims of gun violence deserve more than just the thoughts and prayers of members in Congress - they, and all the families in our nation, deserve common sense gun safety reform measures. It’s time to stop offering platitudes and to make meaningful change that will save lives.  
 
"MomsRising members across the country will continue to work to make America safer by supporting gun safety measures, including background checks for gun purchases and a ban on the sale of military-style assault weapons and high capacity magazines. The safety of our families, our friends, and our communities depend on it.”
 

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.