Local Residents Protest Senate Gun Amendment Vote
A local protest today in response to U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss voting with more than 40 other senators to defeat a Senate amendment to expand background checks for gun buyers.
Members of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and Organizing for Action expressed their dismay in front of the Senators’ offices. Melinda Ennis co-president of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America Georgia chapter.
“Please don’t say it’s because you support the second amendment. That explains nothing to us. This is about keeping guns out of the hands of criminals.”
Ennis is confused about why the senators would vote against the measure despite polls which show widespread support for background checks.
“We see the NRA has a stronghold on you. We see that you seem to care more about you’re a rating with the NRA than the public safety of our children and our citizens.”
Kimberly Brusk was also among those protesting and is concerned about what the votes will ultimately mean.
“I am disgraced. I am embarrassed that my senators did not have the courage to support a bill that could prevent future tragedies like those in Newtown and at Virginia Tech.”
Brusk and others attending the rally say they plan to keep fighting for stricter gun control measures and if the Senators don’t listen to them they will work to defeat them in the next election.
In a statement, Senator Isakson’s office says he voted against the amendment “because of his concerns over its potential impact on private sales and on privacy issues.”
WABE contacted Chambliss’ office but did not receive a response by deadline. In a statement before the vote, Chambliss says he is a “strong supporter of the 2nd amendment.” He went on to say he was voting against the amendment sponsored by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) because he does not “think their amendment is the right way to go about solving this problem.”
9(MDAxODM0MDY4MDEyMTY4NDA3MzI3YjkzMw004))
Top Stories
