SEN. CRUZ STATEMENT ON GUN LEGISLATION VOTE
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) made the following statement about his vote against the Democrats’ gun control bill:
“There are two different approaches to try to stop criminals and mass murders. One is to target and prosecute felons and criminals trying to illegally buy guns and who use guns in the commission of a crime, while simultaneously securing our schools and hiring more police officers who are trained to prevent school violence. My legislation with Senators John Barrasso, Chuck Grassley, Tim Scott, Cynthia Lummis and Mike Crapo would have done that. Like Grassley-Cruz in 2013, this proposal is a comprehensive effort to dedicate serious resources to make schools and communities safer, and to do so in a way that respects our Constitution. Unfortunately, Washington Democrats opposed our legislation and took a second, altogether different approach tonight: Once again, their response was to try to disarm law-abiding citizens rather than take serious measures to protect our children. That doesn’t work. It doesn’t prevent crime and it won’t allow people to defend themselves and their loved ones. And frankly, the Supreme Court might find significant portions of it to be unconstitutional. But because of their political agenda, Democrats have sought to disarm law-abiding citizens. This is a mistake, which is why I voted against this misguided attempt and fought for an alternative that would actually save lives.”
The Safe Kids, Safe Schools, Safe Communities Act would dedicate nearly $38 billion to tackle violent crime and to make our schools and communities safer, including funding enhanced school security and doubling the number of school resource officers in America’s schools, investing in school mental health professionals and reducing gun violence.
Senate Democrats used procedural tactics to block votes on every amendment to their bill, including numerous common-sense amendments directed at improving school safety and protecting the rights of law-abiding Americans such as the Safe Kids, Safe Schools, Safe Communities Act. Senator Cruz was able to successfully force a proxy vote on his legislation, which received 39 votes in support.