Dear Editor:

Senators Casey and Toomey acted with common sense by joining the majority in support of gun reform. It's shameful that a small bloc of senators were able to block life-saving legislation.Background checks are common sense. And they work. In states where background checks are required for handguns, far fewer women are shot to death by their intimate partners. The people most excited by the U.S. Senate's failure are criminals because they'll continue to have access to no background check gun sales.Look at what happened in Boston, I wonder how those children got their hands in the guns they had. Look at the 33 Americans that continue to be murdered with guns every day. I hope people continue the fight because there is no reason why we need a license to drive a car, registration for cars, background check when you start with certain employers, and lastly CDL drivers need to get a security background check to haul hazmat.Do you see something wrong with this picture, how is it possible for any John Doe get a gun without even a check. What about straw purchases that is not ok? I want my children to be safe not have to worry that they might me gunned down. Once the law takes place it will take time to see violence go down, but it is a start to clean up our world.Thank You for everything you do.Christine SolarteWhitehall