CSGV CLAIMS VICTORY IN DEFEATING GUN IMMUNITY BILL

NRA fails to win top legislative priority as Senate rebukes gun lobby on Assault Weapons Ban, Gun Show Loophole

(Washington, DC) - The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CSGV) today claimed victory over the stunning defeat of S. 1805 - the gun lobby's top legislative priority which would have granted unprecedented legal immunity to the gun industry.  The Senate voted down the measure 90-8.

NRA board member and Senator Larry Craig (R-ID) urged senators to vote against the bill after approval of amendments that would have renewed the assault weapons ban (S. 2109) and required background checks on all gun sales at gun shows (S. 1807).

"The importance of today's vote cannot be overstated.  Senators not only rejected the NRA's top legislative priority; they also approved measures that would help ensure public safety," said Joshua Horwitz, Executive Director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence.  "Today's vote dispenses with the myth of an all-powerful gun lobby."

Despite favorable political terrain over the past three years, the gun lobby has been unable to win a single major victory.  In fact, the only way the gun lobby could win anything at all was by attaching anti-law enforcement provisions to a massive omnibus spending package.  The provisions would never have achieved passage on their own.

Though CSGV urged Senators to vote for S. 2109, the organization continues to support a stronger assault weapons ban (S. 1431) that would include "copycat" weapons like the Bushmaster XM-15 assault rifle used in the 2002 DC-area sniper attacks.

"Now that there is proven resolve to keep military-style weapons off of America's streets, we hope Congress and the President will get behind a truly effective assault weapons ban - one that includes 'copycat' weapons just as deadly as those already banned," concluded Horwitz.