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Rep. Kaptur Urges President to Convene Special Session of
Congress, Calls on Mitch McConnell to Immediately Advance
Bipartisan Background Check Legislation
Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur
(D-OH), the longest serving woman in the House of
Representatives and Dean of the Ohio delegation, released
the following statement:
"There is not a single
community across the U.S. that has been spared from the
tragedy of gun violence and mass shootings," said Rep.
Kaptur. "Today, our hearts hang heavy for the families and
people of Dayton, Ohio and El Paso, Texas, where in the span
of less than thirteen hours two shootings carried by
domestic terrorists resulted in the deaths of 31 people - 9
in Dayton and 22 in El Paso."
"Whether it is in Ohio,
Texas, Florida, or Connecticut - or anywhere else for that
matter - one thing remains constant across every mass
shooting that takes place: the fast action of first
responders and the selfless bravery of bystanders. At great
risk to their own personal safety, brave men and women have
acted quickly to save innocent lives and protect others from
falling victim. For every shooting, there are stories of
heroism, bravery, and selflessness, for which we the public
are perpetually grateful.
"It is, however, a profound
injustice that our nation's leaders, specifically those
within the Republican Party, have refused to act with
similar urgency in a single case, even while tragedies like
those in Ohio and Texas continue to take place again and
again.
"In recent years, Americans
across the country have fallen victim by the thousands to
domestic terrorists - and at an ever-increasing rate. The
combination of on-line radicalization, an unregulated,
for-profit firearms industry, and a President who proudly
stokes the flames of prejudice for political gain, have all
contributed to the rise of domestic terrorist incidents that
are of unparalleled scope in our society.
"It is not enough to condemn
racism, bigotry, and white supremacy. Our country - our
communities - desperately need and deserve action. The House
already passed H.R. 8 and H.R. 1112, bipartisan bills that
will strengthen our background check system and that have
overwhelming public support. Both have awaited Mitch
McConnell's action for a vote in the Senate for months.
Americans by the scores will continue to die by mass
shootings and gun violence until President Trump and Mitch
McConnell act. The President should call Congress back now
from its August recess and demand that Mitch McConnell
immediately bring these bills up for a vote in the Senate.
Let's use August to convene a national discussion about what
we must do to protect the American people with a unified
voice. Enough is enough."
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