"H.R. 8 takes us one step closer to a future where no mother has to bury her child because of gun violence," says Congresswoman Robin Kelly
Statement
Congresswoman Robin Kelly, vice chair of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force and an original co-sponsor, released this statement concerning the introduction of H.R. 8, legislation to expand background checks on gun sales:
"In November, the American people spoke with one, loud voice at the ballot box. Across the nation, especially in the Midwest and suburbs, Americans elected leaders committed to saving lives and addressing the epidemic of gun violence that plagues our nation.
Candidates who support commonsense, bipartisan and lifesaving bills were elected in droves while candidates, including many long-term incumbents who blindly backed the NRA's dangerous "guns everywhere, rules nowhere' agenda were sent packing. This bill, H.R. 8, is an answer to this clarion call from American voters.
The American people are sick and tired of Congress' criminal inaction on gun violence. For eight years, Congressional Republicans ignored the gun violence epidemic that claims 96 American lives each and every day.
H.R. 8 is a commonsense, bipartisan, broadly-supported bill that takes us one step closer to a future where no mother has to bury her child because of gun violence. We know that background checks work to reduce gun violence and gun violence deaths.
However, H.R. 8 will not address all gun violence or stop all criminals engaged in the illegal trafficking of firearms. This Congress must also finally pass a federal anti-gun trafficking statue, delete the misguided Dickey Amendment, fund gun violence prevention research at the CDC and close loopholes that exempt firearms from consumer product safety standards.
Furthermore, we know that nothing stops a bullet like an opportunity. We must couple commonsense gun safety laws with investment and re-investment in our communities, so young people pick up hammers and computer skills, instead of guns and bullets."
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