Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced Tuesday night she won’t support the Manchin-Toomey background checks legislation, a blow to the bill’s prospects of securing the necessary 60 votes to pass. A vote on the measure is expected Wednesday afternoon.
Murkowski’s full statement below:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Lisa Murkowski today decided that she will not be supporting the Manchin-Toomey gun legislation and will instead support an alternative amendment proposed by Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA):
“Alaskans have been watching the Senate debate gun legislation closely, because they want to keep Americans safe as much as anyone but don’t believe they need to compromise their 2nd Amendment rights to get there.
“We all agree that we want to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally unstable, but there’s a number of paths to the same destination. A lot of attention has been paid to the Manchin-Toomey amendment, but an alternative has been presented by Senator Charles Grassley, my Republican colleague from Iowa. I believe his legislation is more in line with the views of Alaskans because it accomplishes our shared goals without adding any new steps or layers of bureaucracy for any law-abiding Alaskan who wants to purchase a firearm for sport or protection.
“I support Senator Grassley’s substitute amendment because it strengthens the existing background check process, enforces our already-tough federal laws on the books, works harder to keep guns out of the hands of the mentally ill, addresses gun trafficking and straw purchasing, and ensures our schools are as safe as possible.
“I hear Alaskans clearly – and I hear their calls for action and answers to violence. I will continue to fight for their rights as well as the lives of their loved ones.”
