Former Sen. Al D'Amato (R-N.Y.) had some harsh remarks for lawmakers who voted against a gun-buyer background check bill earlier this week, saying he thinks "you've got to be a jackass" to not support background checks.
At an event for Republican Dina DeGiorgio, who is running for town supervisor in North Hempstead, New York, D'Amato said he was disappointed in his party over the vote, Patch reports.
"By the way, I'm a Republican. I'm not always very proud of what our party has been doing, particularly lately on the national level," D'Amato said. "I think you've got to be a jackass to be voting against background checks for people buying guns."
D'Amato publicly expressed support for the background check bill on April 15, warning opponents they were making a "tragic mistake" by not supporting the measure.
“My colleagues who vote against those provisions I think are making a terrible, tragic mistake and are bending to the pressure of the NRA," D'Amato said in an interview with Fox News. "I’m a conservative — I believe a person should have a right to own a weapon, but I also think there can and should be background checks.”
Editorials from newspapers nationwide criticized those who voted against the measure, calling them "shameful" and "cowardly." The background check amendment, which failed 54 to 46, is supported by 90 percent of Americans.
Click here for a list of the Twitter handles of all of the senators who voted no on the measure, excluding Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who voted against the amendment on procedural grounds.
Click here for more, and watch a video of D'Amato's remarks above via Port Washington Patch.
CORRECTION: DeGiorgio was initially identified as a Democrat. She is a former Democrat who is now running as a Republican.
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