Week in Review 9-6-2019

Lawmakers will return to Washington on Monday after their August recess. During that time there were three more mass shootings with 30 people killed.

The total number of deadly mass shootings in the United States in 2019 comes out to an average of one every 13 days. Most of those have been committed with assault weapons. Ending gun violence should be the first issue Congress acts on next week. 

The assault weapons ban, which passed in 1994 and expired in 2004. The act also banned magazines that could accommodate 10 rounds or more.

Mass shooting deaths are up by 347% since the assault weapons ban expired. Assault weapons with large magazines to hold bullets have been used in most mass shootings.

Polls consistently show that a majority of Americans support a ban on assault weapons and background checks. Americans are growing tired of the killings, which have touched nearly every community is our country. Yet Congress seems to be deaf to our cries to do something.

The House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to take up three gun safety bills. One would outlaw large capacity magazines, another would prevent people convicted of a misdemeanor hate crime from owning a weapon, and another would help states pass laws to allow courts to take guns away from people who could pose a danger.

While the House continues to move forward to keep our communities safe, the Senate is doing nothing. Senate Democrats were ready to travel early back to Washington, DC to act on gun violence prevention but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refused to call the Senate back to session.

Gun violence impacts Democrats and Republicans. This should not be a partisan issue, - but it should be an American issue

We must keep the pressure on the Senate to do something. Keep calling your Senators and demand that they support universal background checks (HR8) and an assault weapons ban (S.66). Encourage your friends and family to do the same. 

Urge your Senators to keep pushing McConnell to bring the gun legislation to the Senate floor, and encourage them to speak out in favor of gun safety measures.

Don't stop calling. Remember to vote on the gun issue in 2020. Our lives depend on it.