Thompson Releases Statement on Republicans Refusing to Save Lives
Today, Chair of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task ForceRep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) highlighted how Republicans are refusing to take gun violence prevention seriously in the wake of yet another school shooting.
“There have been 130 mass shootings this year. After most, we hear silence from extremist Republicans, but after the Nashville school shooting, we got a mix of thoughts, prayers and deflection,” said Thompson. “Instead of getting serious about taking on the gun violence epidemic that kills over 130 Americans every day, they are trying to deflect and distract from their lack of action on this issue. How many more kids need to get murdered before House Republican Leadership steps up and puts gun violence prevention legislation on the House calendar? Protecting children doesn’t mean banning books, it means stopping dangerous people from possessing firearms. My Bipartisan Background Checks Act is supported by the overwhelming majority of the American people, and it is the most effective thing we can do to reduce gun violence.”
After the horrible tragedy in Nashville, Republicans are offering everything except serious solutions to keep kids safe.
Senator Rick Scott (R-FL): “We need to consider an automatic death penalty for school shooters.” (Active shooters are very likely to be shot by the police or kill themselves.)
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN): “We’re not going to fix it…I don’t see any real role that we could do other than mess things up.”
Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN): “Ultimately I think what this does is highlight some of the mental health issues, the mental health crisis we have in this country that needs to be the real conversation we’re having right now."
193 House Republicans voted against the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which provides over $2.35 billion to expand vital school mental health services and improve learning environments. This is the most significant gun violence prevention law passed in 30 years.
202 House Republicans voted against the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, which helps keep guns out hands of people who are a danger to themselves or others. Senate Republicans have blocked background checks from even getting a vote.
201 House Republicans voted against a red flag bill that would create a federal procedure for law enforcement to intervene and prohibit people who are a danger to themselves or others from possessing a firearm. Tennessee does not have a state red flag or extreme risk protection order law.
210 House Republicans voted against the American Rescue Plan, which provided $12 billion to address mental health needs arising from the pandemic.
196 House Republicans voted against going after gun traffickers, which flood our communities with firearms used by criminals.
193 House Republicans voted against cracking down on the spread of ghost guns which are used by criminals and minors because they can be bought without a background check before President Biden took action to close that loophole through executive action.