WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) released the following statement on Wednesday after the Senate passed ill-conceived legislation that blocks a gun safety measure recently finalized by the Obama administration to keep dangerous weapons out of the hands of some individuals with mental illness. The legislation passed today, H.J.Res.40, will weaken the National Instant Background Check System (NICS) and prohibit blocking the sale of firearms to individuals whom the Social Security Administration deemed unfit to manage their affairs as a result of their mental impairment.

“Republicans consistently say we don’t need new gun laws, we just need better enforcement of the laws already on the books. But today, they voted to undermine enforcement of existing law that provides complete information for the background check system,” said Murphy. “Ninety percent of Americans support closing loopholes to make the background checks system better, but Congress just made it worse. Once again, we’ve failed to meet our basic duty to keep our kids, moms, dads, and neighbors safe.”

Yesterday, during a speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate, Murphy urged Senate Republicans to vote against the bill. Murphy criticized Senate Republicans – who have insisted on enforcing existing gun laws – for now attempting to weaken those laws.

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