Everytown Statement On House Judiciary Hearing On Gun Violence Prevention

Common-Sense Solutions Covered At Subcommittee Hearing Including Secure Storage, Red Flag Legislation, and Repealing PLCAA, the Special Protection for Bad Actors in the Gun Industry

WASHINGTON –– Today, Everytown for Gun Safety and its grassroots networks, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, released the following statements after today’s House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security’s hearing on reducing gun violence and mass shootings. The hearing, chaired by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), featured testimony from several gun violence prevention advocates and experts. A recording can be viewed here. 

“Today, the House Judiciary Committee highlighted some of the lifesaving measures Congress can take now to keep Americans safe from gun violence,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “The American people are calling on Washington to address the gun violence crisis, and the gun sense majority in the House is meeting that call with action.”

“The coronavirus pandemic didn’t stop gun violence — it compounded the epidemic which continues to tear apart communities as we reopen,” said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action. “I’m thankful that Chairwoman Jackson Lee and other gun sense leaders in Congress refuse to accept this senseless violence as normal and continue to take action on common-sense gun safety policies that will save lives.”

Every day, more than 100 Americans are shot and killed and over 230 more are wounded, and Everytown research has found that there have been 251 mass shootings since 2009 resulting in 1,426 people shot and killed and at least 958 people shot and wounded.  Today’s hearing was the latest in a series of important moments for gun safety in the House. The House has already passed several life saving measures this session, including a bill to require background checks on all gun sales, a bill to address the Charleston loophole, a bill to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act to close the dating partner loophole, and the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act — all of which President Biden has called for.

The Senate has also held multiple hearings this year on gun violence, including a full Senate Judiciary hearing, two additional subcommittee hearings, and a third announced for next week. Additionally, the Biden-Harris administration has announced historic efforts to take on gun violence—providing a united front in Washington for action.