Virginia Tech Survivor, Maryland Resident and Everytown Survivor Network Member Colin Goddard Urges Maryland Legislators to Act on Domestic Violence Legislation

ANNAPOLIS, Md.—Colin Goddard, a survivor of the Virginia Tech shooting and member of the Everytown Survivor Network, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today urged members of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee and House Judiciary Committee to move Senate Bill 727 and House Bill 1424 out of their respective committees and onto the floor. The legislation would require convicted abusers to surrender their firearms once they become prohibited. Although current law prohibits convicted abusers from purchasing and possessing guns, it does not require that convicted abusers turn in the guns they already own. Goddard joined members of the Maryland chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, also part of Everytown for Gun Safety, last week in Annapolis in testifying in support of gun safety bills.

STATEMENT FROM COLIN GODDARD, VIRGINIA TECH SURVIVOR, MEMBER OF THE EVERYTOWN SURVIVOR NETWORK, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND GRADUATE STUDENT AND SILVER SPRING RESIDENT:

“As a survivor of the shooting at Virginia Tech—now nearly ten years ago, I know firsthand what can happen as a result of weak gun laws. I am raising my family in Maryland now and that’s why I joined Moms Demand Action volunteers in testifying for gun safety in Annapolis last week. It’s long past time for Maryland politicians to act on this legislation and to move HB 1424 and SB 727 out of committee and onto the floor for a full vote. They should do this within the next week. Keeping guns away from domestic abusers is a step that several Republican-controlled legislatures around the nation have taken. It is not controversial and has wide bipartisan support. The national gun violence prevention community is watching Maryland closely.”