WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) released the following statement after voting in favor of the SHIELD Act, which would prevent terrorists from purchasing firearms and enhance law enforcement’s ability to prevent future attacks, while protecting Americans’ Constitutional rights.

“We face more threats coming from more directions than ever before, and keeping Americans safe is our top priority,” Blunt said. “The SHIELD Act would keep guns out of the hands of terrorists, and enhance law enforcement’s ability to take them into custody to prevent an attack. The bill also allows for a reasonable appeals process to protect the rights of law-abiding individuals.”

The Senate failed to adopt the SHIELD Act, which was offered as an amendment to the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. Democrats blocked the amendment by a vote of 53 to 47.

Blunt continued, “The recent attack in Orlando underscores the danger we face in every community across this country. We all agree that we have to prevent terrorists from purchasing and possessing weapons to carry out attacks on our soil. I urge Democrats to reconsider their opposition and work with us to advance solutions that will protect Americans without compromising their Constitutional rights.”

More information on the key provisions of the SHIELD Act is available here.

Blunt also voted for a separate amendment today, offered by Senator Chuck Grassley (Iowa), that would reauthorize and improve the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, incentivize states to submit relevant mental health records to NICS, and require law enforcement to be notified if an individual is either currently being investigated for terrorism and attempts to acquire a firearm, or has been in the past five years. Democrats rejected that measure by a vote of 53 to 47.

Blunt has cosponsored Senator John Cornyn’s (Texas) Mental Health and Safe Communities Act. The bill would fix the existing FBI background firearm check system without expanding it, improve crisis response and prevention, and increase the use of treatment-based alternatives for mentally-ill offenders.

Blunt has also introduced the Expand Excellence In Mental Health Act, which would increase access to certified community behavioral health clinics. Under the measure, the 24 states receiving mental health planning grants through the Excellence in Mental Health Act, which was signed into law in 2014, would be able to expand access to behavioral health services.