Heitkamp Finds Obama’s Gun Proposal Lacking

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Newly elected Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), a moderate Democrat, issued a critical statement Wednesday on President Obama’s plan to reform the nation’s gun laws.

“My highest priority is, and always will be, protecting our children and securing our schools,” she said. “I do not believe that the President’s proposal was as broadly inclusive or exhaustive as the severity of this subject requires. We must have a serious assessment of mental health services available to families and communities. We must also do everything we can to identify potential perpetrators and prevent those individuals from ever taking the lives of innocent children. I believe that it is unnecessary to violate the Second Amendment to keep schools and children safe.”

Heitkamp added that she, along with Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.VA), another moderate Democrat, would like to see the administration include the creation of a national commission on mass violence.

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