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McCollum Discusses Gun Violence Prevention With Minnesota Moms Demand Action

June 29, 2016

Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) met today with grassroots Minnesota members of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America to discuss the urgent need for Congressional action to prevent gun violence.

Congresswoman McCollum’s meeting was part of the National Day of Action for Commonsense Gun Violence Prevention, during which families and gun violence prevention advocates across the country are holding sit-ins and other events to demand Congress act on gun violence prevention legislation. Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a part of Everytown for Gun Safety, is a non-partisan movement of Americans demanding reasonable solutions to address our nation’s gun violence epidemic.

“Our historic sit-in on the House floor last week has lifted up the voices of millions of Americans who are demanding action to prevent gun violence,” Congresswoman McCollum said. “I am hearing every day from constituents who are saying enough is enough: we must act to keep our families and communities safe.”

"We are grateful that Congresswoman McCollum is using her voice to continue the push to reduce gun violence and easy access to guns by dangerous people who want to attack us for who we are, what we look like, or who we love," said Gail Amundson, a volunteer with the Minnesota chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. "This effort is about disarming hate and saving lives —and we will carry the momentum of Congresswoman McCollum's leadership as we continue our call for action — for Orlando and for all the victims and survivors of gun violence."

In addition to Congresswoman McCollum’s meeting with Moms Demand Action in St. Paul, House Democrats, families, and advocates are holding dozens of events nationwide today to demand immediate action from Congress on commonsense gun violence prevention.

The National Day of Action for Commonsense Gun Violence Prevention comes after House Democrats sat-in for 26 hours on the House Floor last week to demand that Speaker Paul Ryan and House Republicans allow an immediate vote on bipartisan, commonsense gun violence prevention legislation to help keep guns out of dangerous hands, with two bills:

  • The bipartisan King-Thompson legislation to expand and strengthen our background check system; and
  • The bipartisan ‘No Fly, No Buy’ bill to prevent suspected terrorists from buying guns and explosives.

Speaker Ryan and House Republicans refused to consider these bills and instead adjourned Congress early and left town in the middle of the night for the Fourth of July recess.

“The American people deserve an up-or-down vote on bills that prevent suspected terrorists from buying guns and require background checks for all gun purchases,” Congresswoman McCollum said. “House Republicans refusal to even consider this bipartisan legislation, let alone take action, is shameful.”