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Congressman Paul Tonko (NY-20) released the following statement in response to executive actions announced by the White House this week, designed to reduce gun violence and make communities safer.

“The President’s executive actions this week, intent at reducing gun violence, represents the overwhelming consensus of the American public – including law abiding gun owners. Last year tragically brought the United States 330 mass shootings, close to 50 of which happened in our schools. This is unacceptable. I support efforts to keep families and children safe and reject those who continue to worry more about losing their ‘A’ rating with the NRA lobby than doing the right thing. We can defend the second amendment of the Constitution while also enhancing background checks, enforcing existing gun laws, and researching gun safety technology.  It’s time for Congressional Republicans to resist the instinct to turn widespread gun violence in our country into a political rallying cry -- and instead work with the President and Congressional Democrats to make our communities safer and keep deadly weapons out of the hands that seek to inflict harm and destruction,” said Tonko.

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