John Johnson, Executive Director of IPGV, said: “We are absolutely thrilled today that Congress has voted to protect America’s homes, schools and communities by voting against this despicable legislation proposed by the gun lobby. The Gun Industry Immunity bill would have granted wholesale immunity from liability to the manufacturers, distributors and dealers of the most lethal of products – guns. The gun industry is already unregulated by any federal authority for health and safety. Enactment of S.1805 would have given the gun industry blanket immunity from liability that no other industry enjoys.”

“We are proud of Senator Harkin for standing with gun violence prevention advocates in opposition to S. 1805 and in support of amendments that brought about the final failure of the bill. We thank both Senators Harkin and Grassley for voting against the final bill and preserving justice for victims of gun violence. We hope that legislators are finally realizing that the vast majority of Iowans and Americans oppose unwarranted protections for the gun industry.”

Carolynne Jarvis, President of States United, said: “The member organizations of States United, while applauding rejection today of Gun Industry Immunity, will not rest on our laurels. We constitute the most important grassroots component of the gun violence prevention movement and played a crucial role in our states in convincing Senators to oppose Immunity. Tuesday’s huge victory for sanity will serve to reinvigorate our campaign to renew and strengthen the soon-to-expire federal Assault Weapons Ban (AWB). We are devoted to enactment of S.1431 and H.R.2038 and will not be distracted from our goal.”

Johnson of IPGV noted that an amendment to extend the current AWB gained bipartisan passage earlier in the day, saying: “IPGV believes that the morning’s passage of a simple extension of the existing AWB served the important purpose of making defeat of Immunity easier, for which we are pleased. We also view this vote on the AWB as a strong indication of support in the country for getting and keeping these weapons of war out of our communities. IPGV joins its colleagues in States United in asserting the need for a strengthened AWB. Neither the current AWB nor the amendment passed Tuesday morning are adequate for the safety of America’s law enforcement or citizens.”