Bipartisan Proposal To Keep Guns From Terrorists Earns Majority Support In Senate, Heinrich Calls For Up-Or-Down Vote

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, a bipartisan compromise U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) helped forge with U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) to keep guns from terrorists survived an attempt by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to reject the legislation in the Senate.  After a majority of the Senate supported the amendment on a procedural vote, Senator Heinrich is now calling for an up-or-down vote to pass the legislation, the Terrorist Firearms Prevention Act of 2016, which would prevent people who are on the No Fly List or the Selectee List from purchasing firearms.

"After days and days of negotiations, we now have the chance to choose between a vote for a bipartisan bill that will undoubtedly better protect the American people, or to once again do nothing at all," said Senator Heinrich. "Deadlock and inability to govern is what Americans have sadly come to expect. A form of helplessness has set in. Many believe that disagreement will always prevail and that our ability to govern is out of reach. These are undoubtedly difficult issues, but it is time to break that cycle of ineffectiveness. That is why I am so grateful that we have a bipartisan agreement that brought members of both parties together and I call on the Republican Leader to allow an up-or-down vote."