Governor Peter Shumlin is not backing down from his position on gun control, even as momentum in Washington for universal background checks seems to have run out of steam.
Shumlin continues to call for a 50-state solution.
Last week, the U.S. Senate defeated the Obama administration’s gun-control proposals.
Activists hope to revive the bill, while also pushing for new state laws. But Shumlin insists those fighting for stricter gun measures should keep their focus on Congress.
"I met with both Senator Leahy and Senator Sanders shortly before the vote," Shumlin said. "They were optimistic that we’d have a sensible background check in all 50 states. As you know, it ain’t over until it’s over and I firmly believe that they’ll come out with a bill that passes the Senate before we’re done that has a background check for buying guns in all 50 states.”
As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Patrick Leahy has found himself at the center of the debate.
After three lengthy hearings before his committee, though, the bill was stalled before the full Senate largely along party lines.
State legislation proposed at the beginning of the legislative session fizzled with little support.
