Washington, D.C., September 25, 2019 — Wednesday afternoon Brady supporters of gun violence prevention efforts gathered in Washington, D.C. to bear witness to the House Judiciary Committee’s hearing on assault weapons and rally together, urging Mitch McConnell and the Senate to bring gun safety bills to a vote.
Survivors, legislators, and advocates including Brady President Kris Brown and VP of Policy Christian Heyne, then came together in an impromptu visit to McConnell’s office. The group demanded a meeting with the Senate Majority Leader to discuss gun violence prevention efforts, following up on a September 17th letter to McConnell where six Members of Congress asked for a sit down to discuss three gun violence prevention bills.
McConnell declined to meet with the survivors and legislators, and instead his staff repeatedly stated the Senator was waiting on guidance from the White House before taking any action.
Brady President, Kris Brown stated,
“In the time that life-saving legislation has been sitting on Mitch McConnell’s desk, more than 20,000 people have been killed by gun violence in America and thousands more wounded. That blood is on McConnell’s hands. Today, the House took another step forward in discussing the critical issue of assault weapons and the devastating toll that they take on America lives. We can’t let these bills go to the Senate to simply die. It’s time Senator McConnell remembers that 97% of all Americans support expanding background checks, including plenty of individuals in his home state of Kentucky. McConnell must do the right thing here and move these common-sense bills to a vote to be passed with a simple majority.”
Brady VP of Policy, Christian Heyne stated,
“We’re all here today calling for action to prevent gun violence, because of the victims who couldn’t be. We must remember that. We must remember the stories of all those who have been taken from us and all of those who live on, struggling with the realities of what it means to be a survivor. Our loved ones are dying every day from gun violence. This is literally about saving lives, and yet Senate Majority Leader McConnell continues to do absolutely nothing. He can’t even take the time to hear from those who have been impacted. Rest assured, we’ll continue to show up, make noise, and do everything possible to ensure our nation addresses this epidemic of gun violence head on.”
More than 200 days ago, the House of Representatives passed legislation to expand Brady background checks and close the “Charleston loophole.” Brady advocates for the Senate to bring these bills to a vote to be passed with a simple majority.
Brady is also putting pressure on McConnell and President Trump with a new campaign, “Bloody Hands.” The campaign website includes a counter to add up the number of people who have been killed by gun violence in the face of McConnell’s and Trump’s inaction with the bold statement, there is blood on their hands.
Brady has one powerful mission — to unite all Americans against gun violence. We work across Congress, the courts, and our communities with over 90 grassroots chapters, bringing together young and old, red and blue, and every shade of color to find common ground in common sense. In the spirit of our namesakes Jim and Sarah Brady, we have fought for over 45 years to take action, not sides, and we will not stop until this epidemic ends. It’s in our hands.
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