Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) said on Monday that he will not support attempts to tighten federal gun laws in the wake of recent mass shootings, but is open to working with Democrats on improving background check technology.
The Utah Republican told The Salt Lake Tribune that the commitment is consistent with a vow made during his Senate campaign that he wouldn’t support new federal gun laws.
“I made that commitment when I ran for office, and I intend to honor that commitment,” he said. “So I will not be voting for new federal legislation related to guns and leave to the Legislature of Utah, closest to our people, any decisions they have in that regard.”
The comments come after two recent mass shootings in Georgia and Colorado, just a week apart, have reignited efforts by some Democrats to call for tighter gun control laws and more expansive background checks.
During a Monday interview with the Tribune, Romney said that gun control measures should be discussed at a state level. The chances of such laws winning support in his conservative Western state appear low, however, after Utah’s conservative legislature ignored a universal background check bill this year and eliminated a law that required residents to get a permit before carrying concealed weapons.
