Paul McCartney Joins Gun Control Campaign Led By Tony Bennett

Paul McCartney has signed up to Tony Bennett‘s gun control campaign.

The 70-year-old former Beatle has recorded a voice message used in a text-to-call operation for “Voices Against Violence,” a campaign masterminded by Bennett and also supported by celebrities including Alec Baldwin, Gloria Estefan, and Josh Groban.

McCartney is probably the highest profile name linked to the operation. His voice can be heard by Americans who send a text reading “MYVOICE” to 877877.

The singer’s message then connects the caller to his or her local Senate office after providing a zip code.

Paul McCartney’s gun control stance mirrors that of Yoko Ono, widow of the late John Lennon. Ono tweeted a photograph last month of the bloodied glasses her late husband John Lennon wore the day he was murdered. The picture was accompanied by the words:

“Over 1,057,000 people have been killed by guns in the USA since John Lennon was shot and killed on 8 Dec 1980.”

The campaign for tougher gun control hit a snag Wednesday, as the Senate voted 54-46 against the Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act. The bill sought to expand background checks, especially applying them to online and gun show sales.

The provision fell short of the 60 votes required to be passed through the Senate.

Bennett responded defiantly to the blocking of the bipartisan plan on Twitter, stating:

The Senate voted against background checks, ignoring the will of the American people. We will not stop until our voices are heard. #myvoice

— Tony Bennett (@itstonybennett) April 17, 2013

Shortly after the plan was knocked back by the Senate, President Barack Obama criticized senators who had voted against. In a White House press conference, he told reporters that voters must play their part by expressing their disappointment to their senators:

“This was a pretty shameful day for Washington. But this effort is not over. If this Congress refuses to listen to the American people… then the real impact is going to have to come from the voters.”