Workmen’s Circle Statement on the Senate’s Failure to Pass the  Manchin-Toomey Gun Reform Amendment.

The Workmen’s Circle expresses its shock and outrage at the inexcusable failure of the United States Senate to pass the Manchin-Toomey gun reform amendment.

The senators who voted to block the measure betrayed the American public that elected them, a public that overwhelmingly supports modest reforms to curb the epidemic of gun violence plaguing our nation. They betrayed the 30,000 Americans killed by gun violence each year and the countless thousands more who are wounded or left behind to mourn. They betrayed the children of Columbine, Aurora, Sandy Hook and the tragedies yet to come—tragedies that have been made all that much more certain by the actions of these 46 senators.

Moreover, they betrayed American democracy. That a minority of the Senate can routinely prevent action on the critical issues confronting our nation makes a mockery of the very idea of government of the people, by the people and for the people for which so many have sacrificed so much. America needs a legislature capable of doing its job. We deserve representatives worthy of the name.

We urge the lawmakers who led the way in crafting this legislation to continue working until gun reform is achieved. And we call on the American public not to give up but to join with us in demanding greater gun safety in our streets, our schools and our homes.