Demand A Plan to End Gun Violence

New TV Ad Featuers Mother of Son Killed in Aurora Holding Senator Flake Accountable for a Broken Promise on Background Checks

Mayors Against Illegal Guns today announced a new television ad holding Senator Jeff Flake accountable for not keeping his word to Arizonans Caren and Tom Teves, whose son Alex was killed in the Aurora theatre shooting while shielding his fiancée. The Teves, who voted for Senator Flake in 2012, sent a letter to their Senator asking him to vote for background check legislation and he responded that, “strengthening background checks is something we agree on.” Just one month later, Senator Flake voted against bipartisan legislation proposed by NRA A-rated Senators Pat Toomey and Joe Manchin – and supported by Senator John McCain – that would have closed loopholes that make it easy for dangerous people to get guns.

Senator Flake voted with the Washington gun lobby and in doing so, broke his promise to the Teves and disregarded the 90 percent of Arizona voters who support this commonsense and life-saving reform.

Mayors Against Illegal Guns Announces New Ad Holding Senator Ayotte Accountable for ‘No’ Vote on Background Checks

Mayors Against Illegal Guns today announced a new television ad holding Senator Kelly Ayotte accountable for voting against bipartisan legislation proposed by NRA A-rated Senators Pat Toomey and Joe Manchin that would have closed loopholes that make it easy for dangerous people to get guns. Senator Ayotte voted with the Washington gun lobby and in doing so, disregarded the 89 percent of New Hampshire voters who support this commonsense and life-saving reform.

The new television ad entitled “Gone Washington” will begin airing in the Manchester and Boston media markets this week in rotation with a previous ad featuring testimonials from Granite Staters. Both ads can be seen here: www.DemandAction.org/Ayotte.

Statements from Granite Staters

Bill Kingston, New Castle Promise

"Senator Ayotte offered an unsatisfactory explanation about how the rights of law abiding gun owners might be infringed upon. I am here to say enough with all of that Senator Ayotte. You can protect licensed dealers, and our children and yes, even your own political career, by standing up for what’s right and fixing our gun laws. It’s time to do the right thing.”

Zandra Rice Hawkins, Granite State Progress

"Senator Ayotte sided with the NRA lobby over the 89 percent of her constituents who support background checks. It is clear from her under-publicized town halls and refusal to engage in real conversation that she thinks her constituents will just forget about her vote. We are here to tell her that’s not true. New Hampshire is a pro-gun state, but it is also a pro-gun safety state. Senator Ayotte needs to stop pandering to the NRA lobbyists and instead stand up for her constituents, or else they will find someone who will."

Judy Stadtman, Co-founder of New Hampshire Project for Safer Communities

"Senator Ayotte chose to take sides with gun lobbyists who want to weaken federal and state guns laws so that virtually anyone can buy any kind of gun with no questions asked, and carry it in every public place in America. That’s not in line with the views of responsible, mainstream gun owners, who overwhelmingly support expanded background checks, and it’s not in line with mainstream New Hampshire values.”

Gun Reform Vote has Serious Consequences for Key Senators

Since the U.S. Senate voted to block legislation that would improve our nation’s broken gun laws, the debate around gun reform has intensified – and led to some very real consequences for a number of senators.

Senators who showed leadership by voting in support of expanding background checks for gun sales saw a considerable boost in their approval ratings, and many who voted to block reform saw their approval ratings go into a tailspin. Senator Kelly Ayotte’s approval rating dropped by 15%, and the public’s reaction to her vote became even clearer during town halls in New Hampshire this past week. Also notable was Senator Jeff Flake’s 21% drop in approval rating – a drop that makes him, in his own words, “the nation’s least popular senator.”¹

An overwhelming majority of the American public has voiced their support for measures like these, and Americans are eager to make their voices heard. It’s a message that Congress should take to heart.

Share this graphic with your family and friends on Facebook and Twitter.

1. "Jeff Flake: ‘Pond scum’ popularity in poll," Politico, April 30, 2013.

Sen. Ayotte's Vote Against Gun Reform Creates Fallout in New Hampshire

At town halls with her constituents in New Hampshire this past week, Senator Kelly Ayotte has encountered tough opposition for her vote against gun law reform. At an event in Warren, NH, on Tuesday, Erica Lafferty, whose mother was gunned down in Newtown, asked Senator Ayotte why she prioritized keeping gun owners from being inconvenienced over the safety of people like her mother. Watch a clip of this powerful moment, and check out Ayotte’s response:

How much the NRA paid the U.S. Senate to block gun reform

Americans to Protest Senators Who Voted Against Background Checks Friday and Saturday

Mayors Against Illegal Guns announced today that Americans in seven states will gather today and Saturday for “Shame on You” protests against senators who voted with the Washington gun lobby and against the 90 percent of Americans who support commonsense, life-saving background checks for all gun sales.

This week Senators Max Baucus (MT), Richard Burr (NC), Saxby Chambliss (GA), Dan Coats (IN), Jeff Flake (AZ), Dean Heller (NV), John Isakson (GA) and Rob Portman (OH) were among those who voted against bipartisan legislation proposed by Senators Joe Manchin and Pat Toomey that would have closed the loopholes that make it easy for criminals and dangerous people to get guns.

Event details are below (all times local.)

ARIZONA

Phoenix
What: "Shame on Your" Protest at Senator Flake's Office
Who: Caren Teves, son Alex Teves killed in Aurora theater shooting, Deborah Parker, daughter shot in Phoenix, Jose Guzman, son murdered during a robbery at a Subway sandwich shop
When: Friday, April 19 at 10:30 AM
Where: Senator Flake's Office, 2200 East Camelback Road, Suite 120
RSVP Here

GEORGIA

Atlanta
What: "Shame on You" Protest at Senator Isakson's Office
Who: Domestic violence and gun violence survivor Kimberly Brusk, Moms Demand Action, Mayors Against Illegal Guns and concerned Georgians
When: Friday, 19 April, 11:30 AM
Where: Senator Isakson's Office, 3625 Cumberland Blvd.
RSVP Here

INDIANA

Indianapolis
What: "Shame on You" Protest at Senator Coats' Office
Who: Mayors Against Illegal Guns, Obama for America, and concerned Hoosiers
When: Saturday, April 20 at 12 noon
Where: Senator Coats' Office, 10 West Market Street
RSVP Here

MONTANA

Bozeman
What: "Shame on You" Protest on Senator Baucus' Office
Who: Mayors Against Illegal Guns and concerned Montanans
When: Friday, April 19 at 12 noon
Where: Senator Baucus' Office, 220 W. Lamme Street, Suite 1D
RSVP Here

NEVADA

Las Vegas
What: "Shame on You" Protest on Senator Heller's Office
Who: Mayors Against Illegal Guns, ProgressNow, Obama for America, and concerned Nevadans
When: Saturday, April 20 at 11 AM
Where: Senator Heller's Office, Lloyd D. George Building, 333 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Suite 8016
RSVP Here

NORTH CAROLINA

Winston-Salem
What: "Shame on You" Protest at Senator Burr's Office
Who: Mayors Against Illegal Guns, Obama for America, and concerned North Carolinians
When: Friday, April 19 at 2 PM
Where: Senator Burr's Office, 2000 West First Street, Suite 508
RSVP Here

OHIO

Cincinnati
What: "Shame on You" Protest at Senator Portman's Office
Who: Victims' rights advocate Hope Dudley, gun violence survivor Regina Morris, Progress Ohio, Mayors Against Illegal Guns and Obama for America
When: Friday, April 19 at 11 AM
Where: Senator Portman's Office, Fountain Square, 520 Vine Street
RSVP Here

Statement of Mayors Against Illegal Guns Co-Chair Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg on Failure of U.S. Senate to Pass Gun Background Check Legislation

“Today’s vote is a damning indictment of the stranglehold that special interests have on Washington. More than 40 U.S. senators would rather turn their backs on the 90 percent of Americans who support comprehensive background checks than buck the increasingly extremist wing of the gun lobby. Democrats – who are so quick to blame Republicans for our broken gun laws – could not stand united. And Republicans – who are so quick to blame Democrats for not being tough enough on crime – handed criminals a huge victory, by preserving their ability to buy guns illegally at gun shows and online and keeping the illegal trafficking market well-fed. Senators Manchin and Toomey – as well as Majority Leader Reid and Senators Schumer, Kirk, Collins, McCain and others – deserve real credit for coming together around a compromise bill that struck a fair balance, and President Obama and Vice-President Biden deserve credit for their leadership since the Sandy Hook massacre. But even with some bi-partisan support, a common-sense public safety reform died in the U.S. Senate at the hands of those who are more interested in attempting to protect their own political careers – or some false sense of ideological purity – than protecting the lives of innocent Americans. The only silver lining is that we now know who refuses to stand with the 90 percent of Americans – and in 2014, our ever-expanding coalition of supporters will work to make sure that voters don’t forget.”

Updated: Organizing for Action and Mayors Against Illegal Guns to Hold "We Have Not Forgotten and Demand Action" Community Events Across the Country

Chicago, IL and New York, NY – Starting tonight in Arizona and continuing tomorrow Saturday, April 13th, Americans across the country will join together at "We Have Not Forgotten and Demand Action" community events to call on members of Congress to support gun violence prevention measures like the bipartisan legislation introduced by Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey and West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin to require background checks for commercial gun sales. The American people have made it clear where they stand – they want a response to the tragedies caused by gun violence and want Congress to keep guns out of dangerous hands. With 92% of Americans already supporting commonsense measures like background checks for all gun sales, it's time Congress stands with those Americans instead of the gun lobby to support reforms that will save lives and protect our communities.

“We Have Not Forgotten and Demand Action” events will feature community leaders as they stand up to ensure that Congress hears the steadfast calls of the American people for sensible solutions to gun violence. It’s time for Congress to act now, stop the political games and move forward meaningful steps to protect our communities and our children. There have been too many families torn apart by gun violence – it is time to show that we can both support the Second Amendment and make sure dangerous people aren't able to purchase a gun.

The Toomey-Manchin Bipartisan Background Checks Compromise

Senators Pat Toomey (R-PA) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) have announced a bipartisan compromise to the gun reform legislation that is currently making progress in Washington. The amendment would require a criminal background check for every gun sale at gun shows and online, and would close a significant loophole that makes it easier for criminals and other dangerous people to get access to guns. By expanding background checks to these commercial settings, this amendment would be tremendously effective in keeping guns out of dangerous hands.

Go here to learn more about how this compromise will keep guns out of criminal hands and to see videos of the types of dangerous sales that this legislation would address

Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) Announces Support for Background Check Legislation

In a press release issued on April 11th, Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) announced his support for legislation that would prevent gun violence and save lives by expanding background checks and strengthening penalties for gun trafficking. In a clip from the release, Udall stated that he will “support the Manchin-Toomey amendment on background checks,” an important amendment to existing legislation that would require background checks for all gun sales at gun shows and online. Learn more about the amendment here.