While I’m grateful to U.S. Sens. Bob Casey and Pat Toomey for acting with common sense by joining the majority in support of gun reform, it’s shameful that a small bloc of senators was able to derail this life-saving legislation.

I’m one of the estimated 88 percent of Pennsylvanians who support background checks for all gun sales. Background checks are just common sense. Statistics show that they work. In states where background checks are required for handguns, far fewer women are shot to death by their partners.

The people most excited by the Senate’s failure are criminals — because they’ll continue to be able to obtain guns without restraint.

Law-abiding citizens should not fear or oppose background checks for gun purchases. While it’s true that no set of laws can completely eradicate gun violence, that’s no reason not to enact sensible reforms.

No law can be 100 percent effective. If we were to hold every law to that unreasonable standard, then we might as well eliminate laws against speeding, drunken driving, stealing, and so on.

Let’s keep urging our legislators to pass common-sense gun reforms. No one should rest while 33 Americans continue to be murdered with guns every day.