- New York 06/21/2016 by Linda Perry (WBAI)

The U.S.. Senate demonstrated an inability to act on gun reform legislation last night, even in the wake of the Orlando Florida massacre. As it stands now 40% of gun sales are unlicensed. Weapons and ammunition in all but 18 of the 50 states in the union sold online or at gunshows have no background checks. Senate Democrats say 90% of the population in the U.S., including those who own and who don’t own guns, are in favor of enacting legislation for stronger background checks. Proposed legislation would have closed the gun show, internet gun purchasing and gun transfer loophole and it would have prevented suspected terrorists from purchasing weapons and ammunition.

Here in NYC, there is outrage among elected officials over the Senate’s inability to act on gun reform. New York City Council Member from the East Side of Manhattan, Dan Garodnick says Republicans in Congress are acting like a wholly owned subsidiary of the NRA. "We are failing in this country. This is the shame of this country... If you cannot fly, you should not be able to access these guns." 

The failure by the Senate to agree on gun reform legislation is "disgusting, despicable," according to New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. "What we need to do is to continue to organize. We need to continue to get involved in electoral politics to make sure that we're voting for people who are really uphold what the majority of this country say they want to see implemented." 

Queens Council Member Danny Dromm says the LGBT Community demands action. "On Sunday for the LGBT Pride Parade, you're going to see a majority of people in that Pride Parade calling for and demanding that we have gun control laws in our country which are applicable to the situation in Orlando. There's talk about some creative things going on, perhaps wrapping the NRA in a Rainbow colored flag."

On Tuesday Code Pink held an action outside the National Rifle Association in Washington, D.C. Large signs read Ban Assault Weapons. Protesters held large pink hearts with photos of people who was murdered at the gay dance club in Orlando. Medea Benjamin screamed out, "NRA you have blood on your hands!" Protesters chanted, "Arrest the NRA, not us," but 20 Code Pink demonstrators were arrested as they formed a human blockade to the entrance of the National Rifle Association.

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