Bonamici Presses for Meaningful Action to Address Gun Violence

Congresswoman Urges House to Enact National Background Checks, Repeal Ban on Gun Violence Research

Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) joined dozens of House Democrats, victims of gun violence, and families of victims of gun violence in calling on the U.S. House of Representatives to pass sensible and meaningful legislation to make our communities safer.

During a press event on Capitol Hill and a speech on the House floor, Bonamici urged Congressional leaders to close loopholes in our background check system, keep military-style weapons out of the hands of dangerous criminals, and allow the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to research gun violence.

“Every time I hear about another mass shooting or a senseless death from gun violence, I think about all of the mothers who have lost children, and I can’t imagine how they feel,” said Congresswoman Bonamici. “After Orlando, the deadliest mass shooting in our nation’s modern history, there are 49 more families grieving a loved one. Congress owes it to the American people to take meaningful action before more lives are lost.

“This week, Congress should be enacting the bipartisan background check bill to eliminate loopholes at gun shows and online—something more than 90 percent of Americans support. Congress should dedicate resources for the CDC to study the causes and effects of gun violence as a public health crisis. Any other cause that took 91 lives every day would warrant research and action. Congress should take steps to keep deadly, military-style weapons—which are readily available in too many communities—out of the hands of dangerous people.

“Unfortunately, House leadership will not even allow a vote on the life-saving, commonsense measures that our communities urgently need and that our constituents desperately want” Bonamici continued. “Enough is enough. We’ve lost too many mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, co-workers, friends, and neighbors. This problem is not without a solution. It is past time for Congress to take meaningful action to save lives.”

WATCH video of Congresswoman Bonamici’s speech on the House floor here.

Last month Congresswoman Bonamici took part in a historic 26-hour sit-in on the House floor demanding that Congressional leaders schedule a vote on legislation to prevent gun violence. Last week in Oregon, Bonamici met with gun violence prevention advocates about how Oregon has taken commonsense action to make communities safer by reducing gun violence.