Senator Tries to Rally Gun-Control Supporters at Newtown High School

Connecticut’s senior senator tried to rally gun-control supporters in Newtown last night, telling them the upper chamber needs to go beyond the Manchin-Toomey background check compromise and ban assault weapons.

Both failed as amendments to the broader gun-control package last month.

“Last month, the Senate failed to advance common sense solutions to reduce gun violence when 45 Senators sided with the NRA and special interests against the interests of 90 percent of Americans. That vote was shameful, and one of the lowest points in my career in public service. I am outraged, but not discouraged. We cannot allow special interests to block the will of 90 percent of Americans,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) told residents at Newtown High School.

The forum hosted by Newtown Action Alliance was titled “What’s Next for Gun Safety? Understanding and Uniting the Broad Middle.” The senator was joined by Virginia Tech shooting survivor and Brady Campaign Against Gun Violence activist Colin Goddard, President and CEO of the National Gun Victim’s Action Council Elliot Fineman, and Executive Director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence Josh Horwitz.

“I will continue to push for common sense legislation that will make our streets and schools safer and keep guns away from those who wish to harm innocent victims. That means continuing to fight until we pass background check legislation, ban high-capacity magazines and assault weapons, address the difficult issues within our mental health system, and until we close the loopholes that allow for gun trafficking in our communities,” Blumenthal said.

“Your voices, voices of Newtown and gun violence victims nationwide have been vital to this effort – and those voices must get louder so that those who oppose common sense legislation will clearly hear the will of the people,” he continued. “I look forward to continuing to fight alongside you until we get this done. We owe it to the victims of Sandy Hook, the nearly 4,000 innocent victims of gun violence since then, and the 90 percent of Americans who are counting on Congress to do no less.”