Speaker Pelosi, Chairman Thompson Hold Forum on the Urgent Need for Senate Action

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Washington – Today Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Chairman Mike Thompson (CA-05) along with 63 House Democrats held a forum on the urgent need for Senate action on bipartisan bills to prevent gun violence that the House passed nearly 200 days ago. They were joined by panelists from across the county who have been impacted by gun violence, including Ret. Chief Daniel Isom, former Chief of Police for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department; Vic Bencomo, 22-year Navy veteran, gun owner and member of the Colorado Gun Owners for Safety; The Honorable Christine Hunschofsky, Mayor of Parkland; Dr. Joseph Sakran, trauma surgeon and gun violence survivor from Baltimore; and Ariel Hobbs, student member of the March For Our Lives Board of Directors from Texas

"Democrats are accelerating a drumbeat of action across America, holding event after event to turn up the heat on Senator McConnell and force him to take up our House-passed, bipartisan background checks legislation," said Speaker Nancy Pelosi. "It is a privilege to join Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Chairman Mike Thompson, an outstanding leader in the fight to end the gun violence epidemic, and survivors, student leaders, veterans and representatives of our law enforcement and public health communities for this critical conversation to urge Senator McConnell to finally join Democrats to save lives. Our Democratic House will continue to fight on every front to make this issue too hot to handle for the GOP to block — because we are not taking no for an answer."

"Today House Democrats joined together to again call out Leader McConnell for his refusal to take action to help prevent gun violence. The House took bipartisan action on a bill supported by more than 90 percent of Americans and yet for nearly 200 days the Senate has failed to do anything to address this issue and keep our communities safe," said Chairman Thompson. "More than 10,000 people have been killed already this year by someone using a gun and I continue to ask, when will enough be enough for McConnell? Democrats have taken action and will continue our fight demanding the Senate hold a vote to help save lives."

Copies of statements from panelists are attached and available here. You can watch a livestream of the forum here.

The Gun Violence Prevention Task Force was established after the tragedy at Sandy Hook and has grown to a membership of more than 190.