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WASHINGTON – Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20) released the following statement regarding a sit-in occupation of the House Floor by Democrats this afternoon in an attempt to force House Speaker Paul D. Ryan to allow a vote on commonsense legislation that prevents future gun violence. Tonko joined his colleagues for the sit-in, led by civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis (GA-5), multiple times throughout the day and plans to attend the event once again.

“Moments of silence, thoughts, and prayers are not enough. Every day, on average, we lose 89 Americans to gun violence. I am honored to join my Democratic colleagues on the House Floor today to demand action to prevent further gun violence in our country. We are here today to ask for a simple vote on what the majority of Americans want: expanded background checks and closing the loophole that allows suspected terrorists to purchase firearms. It is time for Congress to listen to the American people instead of the gun lobby. It is time for action,” said Tonko.

Tonko has supported several pieces of commonsense gun safety legislation, including closing the ‘Terrorist Gun Loophole” which allows suspected terrorists to legally buy guns in the United States. The current loophole has allowed more than 2,000 suspects on the FBI Terrorist Watch List to buy guns in the United States over the last 11 years.  In that time, more than 90 percent of all suspected terrorists who tried to buy guns walked away with the weapon that they wanted. 

Since January 2015, House Republicans have voted 13 times against closing the terrorist gun loophole.

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