Senate Republicans Vote Down Gun Safety Legislation

Contact: Neil Reilly | 774.766.2351

February 28, 2018

(New York, NY) In response to the repeated tragedies caused by gun violence, Senator Benjamin and the New York State Senate Democrats forced votes on four firearm safety bills on Wednesday. The Senate Republican Majority unanimously opposed each of the common sense measures.

“We need more than thoughts and prayers to keep our communities safe–we need concrete government action,” Senator Benjamin said. “My colleagues and I provided a plan for such action today by introducing common sense legislation to keep New Yorkers Safe and to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals. It is very disappointing that the Senate Republican Majority voted against these bills to combat gun violence.”

The Senate Democrats forced four bills onto the Senate floor for a vote, and the Senate Republicans voted against each measure. The bills would have implemented effective background checks, established extreme risk protection orders, and banned bump stocks in New York State. The Senate Democrats also advanced legislation to create a Firearm Violence Research Institute, which is more pressing following the Trump Administration’s and the Republican Congress’ resistance to researching gun violence.

For more information about the Senate Democratic Conference’s ongoing efforts to advance gun safety legislation, please visit:
https://www.scribd.com/document/370879401/Senate-Democrats-Keep-Guns-Away-From-Dangerous-Individuals-And-Protect-Our-Communities