Meng, Gillibrand Slam Congress Over Background Check Failure

New York's Congressional delegation had some harsh words for their colleagues in Congress Wednesday, after the Senate failed to pass an amendment that would have expanded background checks on gun purchases.

"Today has been one of the most deeply disappointing days of my short time in the U.S. Senate," Kirsten Gillibrand said. "Families from coast to coast deserved better from this Congress. The Newtown parents who came to Washington to bravely tell their stories deserved better than this body turning their backs on them. The families of Aurora deserved better. The families of the more than 30 people who die at the hands of gun violence every single day in this country deserved better."

U.S. Rep. Grace Meng, D-Forest Hills, was also at a loss.

"In the wake of the Newtown massacre, and with all the senseless and tragic shootings throughout our nation, it’s truly shocking that we cannot come together to pass reasonable, common sense legislation to reduce gun violence," Meng said. "As one of the Sandy Hook fathers noted, the NRA says guns don't kill people, people kill people. So let's have background checks on people."

New York State, with the backing of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, recently passed some of the most stringent gun safety laws in the nation. 

What do you think? Are you surprised that the amendment failed? Let us know in the comments.