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Gray Urges Action on Terrorist Related Gun Legislation

Jim Gray for Kentucky / Facebook

Kentucky Democratic Senatorial candidate Jim Gray believes the U.S. congress should do more to keep guns out of the hands of terrorists. His statement comes following the nation’s worst mass shooting last weekend in Orlando. 

Gray held a news conference Wednesday outside the Lexington office of Senator Rand Paul.

“I think people are really, really just so distressed over continuing to see the headlines like they saw and heard in Sunday mornings headlines, the terrorist attack in Orlando and we need to be doing something," Gray said.

Gray is backing legislation focused on preventing individuals on terrorist watch lists from purchasing assault weapons, what he called the ‘terrorist gun loophole legislation.’ “This is a simple, common sense solution and legislation that should prevent terrorists, and criminals, and those with severe mental disabilities from acquiring assault weapons," Gray said.

He says it doesn’t interfere with personal gun rights. “And we must do what we can while preserving the second amendment, and honoring the second amendment, and supporting the second amendment, we must do what we can to prevent terrorism," he says.

Senator Rand Paul issued a statement, saying he voted in December to make sure no terrorist can buy guns in the U.S. The incumbent says that legislation prevented the Obama administration from drawing up a list of hundreds of thousands or even millions of Americans who, through no judicial process, are stripped of their rights.

Stu Johnson is a reporter/producer at WEKU in Lexington, Kentucky.
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