Tonko, 200+ House Members Call for Senate to Return & Vote on Gun Safety BillsBipartisan background check bills H.R. 8 & H.R. 1112 were passed by the House in February, McConnell refuses debate
Washington,
August 7, 2019
WASHINGTON – Congressman Paul Tonko joined Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Chairman Mike Thompson (CA-05) and 212 other Representatives in the House to call on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to bring the Senate back into session immediately and pass H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, and H.R. 1112, the Enhanced Background Checks Act. The letter reads in part: “This inaction must stop. We know background checks save lives. Every day background checks stop more than 170 felons and 50 domestic abusers from getting a gun. Any delay to pass commonsense gun violence prevention legislation only increases the chances that more innocent people in America may suffer from the tragic and needless loss caused by gun violence.” In addition to supporting House-passed H.R. 8 and H.R. 1112, Rep. Tonko also cosponsors:
Full text of the letter: The Honorable Mitch McConnell Majority Leader United States Senate The Capitol, S-230 Washington, DC 20500
Dear Leader McConnell: We strongly urge you to take immediate action to call the Senate back into session to pass H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act and H.R 1112, the Enhanced Background Checks Act. In February, the new Democratic House Majority took swift action to pass these bipartisan bills which not only save lives, but also has the support of more than 90 percent of the American people. Since that time, you have allowed more than 150 days to pass and countless lives have been lost including those most recently lost in Gilroy, California, El Paso, Texas, Dayton, Ohio, Chicago, Illinois and the many others who will never make the headlines. This inaction must stop. We know background checks save lives. Every day background checks stop more than 170 felons and 50 domestic abusers from getting a gun. Any delay to pass commonsense gun violence prevention legislation only increases the chances that more innocent people in America may suffer from the tragic and needless loss caused by gun violence. Again, we urge you to follow the leadership of the House Democratic Majority and immediately come back into session to pass H.R 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act and H.R. 1112, the Enhanced Background Checks Act, that could prevent dangerous criminals from obtaining weapons and save lives. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter of great urgency to the American people. Signed, ### |