WASHINGTON, D.C. – In remarks delivered on the Senate floor this morning, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) called on his colleagues in both the Senate and House to move forward with the compromise bill he introduced earlier this week with Senator Susan Collins that would help prevent terrorists from obtaining weapons. Senator King expressed his disappointment with the difficulty in advancing such common-sense legislation and said that people across Maine, regardless of political affiliation, have spoken about their desire to see Congress take action on this critical issue.

Quoting an email he received from one of his Regional Representatives in Maine this morning, Senator King said, “People who own guns and said so, and those who don’t – every single person expressed dismay that Congress has not acted on this. Many mentioned the sit-in in the House of Representatives and were shocked that the issue would not even be given a vote. Many wanted to know when the vote would be taken in the Senate. People in Maine, including responsible gun owners, want more background checks and limitations on those who raise red flags. They want common-sense legislation.

“It makes no sense to me that we spend millions of dollars to keep arms away from terrorists in the Middle East and do nothing to keep arms away from terrorists here in the United States,” Senator King continued in his remarks. “That’s why I am supporting, along with a nonpartisan group of other senators led by Susan Collins of Maine, a common-sense piece of legislation that will simply add to the list of those items which prohibit people from getting guns if you are on the no-fly list. This is about as simple and common-sense as it gets.

“And I really can’t understand why it’s become so difficult to move it forward,” he continued. “We had a filibuster here last week. As a result of that, we ended up having several votes on this issue earlier this week. In the House of Representatives, however, there’s no vote whatsoever – to the point where members of the House have had to take to the floor and literally take over the floor and say we’re not leaving until we get a vote. I think it’s important to emphasize that those people in the House are not saying we’re staying here until we pass legislation. They’re saying let’s have a vote. That’s our job. If you ask any sixth grader what do Senators and Representatives do – they vote on things. That’s what we’re supposed to be doing. That’s why we’re here. And for the House, the Majority, to adjourn for a vacation, for a break, for the next ten days without even allowing a vote or any debate on the issue, I just find inexplicable. I mean, it just looks ridiculous to the people of this country. […] We often wonder why Congress is held in low esteem. It’s because we’re not doing our job.”

To watch Senator King’s complete remarks on the floor, click HERE.

For a summary of the proposal he introduced with Senator Collins earlier this week, click HERE.

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