DECEMBER 6, 2017 — Today, Giffords, the gun violence prevention organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffordsand her husband, combat veteran and retired NASA astronaut Captain Mark Kelly, called for the Senate to pass legislation to prevent gun violence ahead of a hearing where experts will discuss the recent tragedies in Las Vegas and Sutherland Springs, Texas.
The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee is holding a hearing today at 10:00 AM entitled, “Firearm Accessory Regulation and Enforcing Federal and State Reporting to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).” The hearing will feature representatives from federal agencies as well as expert witnesses to discuss the loopholes in our laws that led to the deadly shootings. Leaders on both sides of the aisle have called for action in the wake of these tragedies, including lending bipartisan support for legislation to strengthen background checks records reporting sponsored by Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Chris Murphy (D-CT).
At the same time that the Senate considers solutions to gun violence, the U.S. House of Representatives will vote later today on the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017, a dangerous bill opposed by law enforcement leaders across the country who say it will put officers at risk and make communities less safe. The bill would undermine current state public safety standards by forcing states with strong concealed carry laws to honor permits from states with weak or nonexistent concealed carry laws.
Robin Lloyd, Director of Government Affairs, Giffords:
“Congress ...