April 17, 2013

Manchin Statement on The ‘Public Safety & Second Amendment Rights Protection Act’

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) issued the following statement after the Senate voted down the Manchin-Toomey amendment that would have kept guns out of the hands of criminals and those who are mentally adjudicated through the court system while protecting Americans’ Second Amendment rights. Because Majority Leader Harry Reid changed his vote for procedural reasons, the final vote count was 54-46. Senator Reid’s vote change will allow the amendment to be reconsidered in the future.

“Although I am disappointed in the outcome of today’s vote for a commonsense measure to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill while protecting our Second Amendment rights, this is not the end of the debate,” Senator Manchin said. “I thank Senator Pat Toomey, along with Senators Mark Kirk and Chuck Schumer, for their support on working toward a balanced approach to fix our culture of mass violence. Moving forward, I am hopeful that my colleagues and I can work together as we remember all the families who have suffered from senseless acts of violence across America. If we muster just one ounce of the courage these families have shown, then we, as a legislative body, can truly make a difference.”

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