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In the Wake of Deadliest Shooting in Modern U.S. History Everytown, New Hampshire Moms, Gun Violence Survivor Condemn Senator Ayotte for Voting Against Background Checks

June 20, 2016

For Third Time in Three Years, Senator Ayotte Votes Against Common Sense Gun Safety Measure

CONCORD, N.H. — Members of the New Hampshire chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and the Everytown Survivor Network – both part of Everytown for Gun Safety – today released the following statements from Survivor Network member Clai Lasher-Sommers and Moms Demand Action volunteer Deidre Reynolds after Senator Kelly Ayotte voted against closing a critical gap in our nation’s background check system. The proposed legislation would have closed the deadly loophole that makes it easy for criminals to avoid background checks by purchasing guns from unlicensed sellers.

STATEMENT FROM CLAI LASHER-SOMMERS, MEMBER OF THE EVERYTOWN SURVIVOR NETWORK AND RESIDENT OF WESTMORELAND:

“Once again, Senator Ayotte has insulted gun violence survivors and the families of those whose loved ones have been senselessly killed by guns. Just as she did three years ago after the tragedy at Newtown, our Senator has put the interests of the gun lobby over common-sense public safety measures that would keep guns away from dangerous people. But make no mistake: The forces for change are gaining in strength and we simply will not forget Senator Ayotte letting New Hampshire voters down on gun safety. As a proud Granite Stater and a survivor of gun violence, I vow to do everything in my power to make sure that Senator Ayotte loses her seat this November.”

STATEMENT FROM DEIDRE REYNOLDS, VOLUNTEER WITH THE NEW HAMPSHIRE CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:

“As a New Hampshire mother, I am deeply disappointed that Senator Ayotte remains indifferent to the beliefs held by the vast majority of her constituents. The overwhelming majority of New Hampshire voters support criminal background checks for all gun sales, which Senator Ayotte voted against today. Yet, Ayotte appears determined to defy the desires of her voters. After Sandy Hook, she stood with the gun lobby and she has now done so once again after Orlando. But the political tides are shifting and in the last week alone, thousands of New Hampshire voters have gotten involved in the fight for common sense gun safety laws. Shame on you for insulting us, Senator Ayotte. We will remember it at the polls.”

In the last week alone, Everytown’s #DisarmHate campaign drove more than 112,000 people to sign petitions and more than 62,000 to call legislators urging them to vote for the common sense proposals in question. More than 2,000 of the actions taken came from New Hampshire voters previously not active in the gun violence prevention movement.

More information on the Orlando mass shooting is available here.
More information on background checks is available here.
More information on gun violence in America “By The Numbers” is available here.

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