Washington, D.C. — Today, a bipartisan group of senators announced a gun safety framework that contains key reforms to address the United States’ dangerously high rates of gun violence. Patrick Gaspard, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement in response:
At last. After decades of no meaningful response to exploding gun violence in America, we at long last have some legislative action. The framework announced today contains important reforms that will help address this epidemic, including incentives for states to implement their own extreme risk protection order laws, stricter background checks for individuals under the age of 21, and increased support for school security. We should not allow the measures in this bill to promote the smokescreen that mental health is the cause of gun violence in our nation. We’ve lost lives because of a grievous refusal to ban assault weapons, hold manufacturers accountable, and to pass universal background checks. Today’s framework is a positive step in what needs to be a relentless campaign.
While it never should have taken countless mass shootings and the senseless murder of children for our senators to do the right thing, we applaud this bipartisan group for reaching agreement on these basic, sensible measures.
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For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Tricia Woodcome at [email protected].