Statement By U.S. Conference Of Mayors President Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter On The Senate's Rejection Of Feinstein Assault Weapons Ban, Toomey-Manchin Background Check, And Other Amendments To Reduce Gun Violence

WASHINGTON, April 17, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- United States Conference of Mayors President Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter  issued the following statement after the Senate's rejection today of various amendments focused on reducing gun violence:

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"It is with deep disappointment that the nation's Mayors today watched the Senate reject amendment after amendment that would have strengthened the nation's gun laws and helped to prevent the tragedies which occur every day on the streets of our cities and the mass shootings in Newtown, Aurora, Tucson, and too many other places in our nation.  Those amendments would have strengthened and expanded the background check system, banned assault weapons, strengthened federal gun statutes, and banned high-capacity magazines.

"Clearly the shots heard 'round the world on December 14 were not heard by enough U.S. Senators to make a difference on April 17.  Nor were the shots which have killed nearly 3500 additional people in this country since December 14.

"Despite the appeals of the families of those children and teachers shot and killed in Newtown, despite the appeals of former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, not enough Senators were persuaded that more can be done to keep guns away from those who would turn them on us.

"Despite the appeals of Mayors and law enforcement leaders across this nation, too many Senators believe that the laws governing firearms in our country do not need to be strengthened as was proposed today, that the loopholes in those laws do not need to be closed.

"In poll after poll, the vast majority of Americans voice their support for stronger gun safety laws, but their voices are consistently drowned out by the organized advocates of the status quo who have a stronger presence in the halls of Congress.

"Mayors never stop fighting to ensure the safety of our citizens, and we will not give up on our efforts on this issue.  The U.S. Conference of Mayors has supported measures to reduce gun violence for more than four decades and we won't be deterred from pushing for what is right.  That is what the American people want and what our cities and our nation needs."

The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are 1,295 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/usmayors, or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/usmayors.

SOURCE The U.S. Conference of Mayors

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