Several members of Connecticut's congressional delegation are among a group of federal lawmakers that met with President Barack Obama on Monday about his executive actions tightening the nation's gun laws.
Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy and Rep. Elizabeth Esty met with the president at the White House on Monday afternoon. All three have actively pursued gun control legislation following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in December 2012.
Obama's package is expected to include proposals aimed at cracking down on unregulated gun sales, including expanded background checks.
A 2013 bill that called for universal background checks failed in the Senate. Congress has not considered another gun control bill since.
Esty, whose district includes Newtown, said while she applauds President Obama’s efforts to use executive action to strengthen the nation’s gun laws, she said Congress also needs to take action to help keep Americans safe.
"I call on my colleagues to take further steps that Congress alone must take and needs to take to help protect the American people. That’s our duty. Just as the president is, so are members of Congress sworn to protect and defend the American people," said Esty, "and we have not been doing that job in the House of Representative and the Senate because the NRA has frankly gotten a strangle hold on the most common sense gun safety regulation. And that’s got to change."