WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) has called on his Congressional colleagues to restart bipartisan discussions on reasonable, balanced, gun safety measures that would reduce the threat of gun violence in our communities while still protecting the rights of legitimate sportsmen. Six of the twelve fatal victims in Monday’s mass shooting at the Washington Navy Yard were from Maryland.

“The tragedy of every recent mass shooting in America has underscored the importance of Congress passing sensible, federal gun safety legislation. We know that we won’t be able to stop every tragedy, but we absolutely can save lives. Earlier this year, some four months after the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary, there was a glimmer of hope that the Senate was finally working together on a bipartisan basis to pass reasonable background checks for all gun purchases. This effort was fleeting, but it must be revived. The safety of our children and our communities should never be put at risk by partisan gridlock. We must use common sense and act responsibly. I am sympathetic to the interests of legitimate hunters and collectors, but we should follow the lead of states like Maryland and reinstate the federal ban on assault weapons and prohibit high-capacity ammunition clips. We must take steps to strengthen our mental health system so that individuals who need help with mental illness can get appropriate help and not have access to hand guns or other weapons. Despite lobbying efforts to the contrary, I know that we can protect our communities while still protecting the Constitutional rights of legitimate hunters and existing gun owners.”