WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a senior member of the House Committees on Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Budget, issued this statement ahead of her announcement of a gun violence prevention roundtable and summit on September 3:

“When voters went to the polls in November, they demanded action. They demanded changes to a system that was increasingly working for the few, at the cost of the people. And indeed, voters went to the polls seeking a better deal. This meant lowering the cost of prescription drugs, investing in American workers by investing in America’s communities, and cleaning up the corruption that has paralyzed progress on many of the action items that enjoy overwhelming support by the people, but have been stymied by legislative gridlock.

“One of those topics is the need to control our gun violence epidemic. Sadly, and on a regular basis, our nation is reminded of the carnage that inaction can produce. This is why, on September 3, I will host a gun violence prevention summit and roundtable to address this epidemic of gun violence. Also at that time, I will introduce additional legislation designed to stem the rising tide of gun violence and the deadly and implacably stubborn incidences of mass shootings in America.

“Just this month, our nation has been convulsed by a series of mass shootings. Two Saturdays ago, the nation learned of a horrific shooting in El Paso, where a white nationalist entered a Wal-Mart store and opened fire, killing 22 people, mostly Hispanics. In an online manifesto posted by him shortly before he commenced his carnage, the killer echoed racist and extremist screeds. Shortly after he was arrested, he admitted to wanting to kill as many Mexicans as possible. Sadly, it was the deadliest attack on the Hispanic community in American history. Just 13 hours later, another gunman opened fire in Dayton, Ohio, in an area known for nightlife. The gunman in Dayton possessed 100-round ammunition drums, fit for a .223 caliber rifle. In a span of less than a half-minute, this man managed to fire 41 shots. In just 30 seconds, he took the lives of 9 people, and managed to shoot and injure 14 others. Dozens of others were injured trying to escape the pandemonium that ensued when he opened fire. In remarks made after the shooting, the Dayton police chief, Richard Biehl, indicated: "It is fundamentally problematic…[t]o have that level of weaponry in a civilian environment, unregulated, is problematic." And just this Wednesday night, a gunman initiated a standoff with the Philadelphia Police Department, which resulted in the suspect shooting six members of the Philadelphia police force before the situation was diffused. After Wednesday’s situation was diffused, the Mayor of Philadelphia Jim Kenney, observed: “[o]ur officers deserve to be protected and they don’t deserve to be shot at by a guy for hours with an unlimited supply of weapons and an unlimited supply of bullets. It’s disgusting and we have to do something about it.”

“Dayton Police Chief Biehl and Philadelphia Mayor Kenney are correct and they echo the work I have been doing on Capitol Hill. The need to stem the tide of gun violence is manifest, and made all the more so after recounting the names and places of horrors seared in our collective conscience. Following the conclusion of this week, we now add more names to the roster of horror and carnage: Gilroy, El Paso, Dayton. They take their place alongside names all too familiar to the American psyche. Columbine. Sandy Hook. Aurora. Sutherland Springs. Las Vegas. Orlando. Santa Fe. Parkland. Of these places, one strikes very close to home. On May 18, 2018, a student at Santa Fe High School, in Santa Fe, Texas, walked into class with firearms and killed 10 people. It ranks among the deadliest school shootings in Texas history. It was determined that the gunman used his father’s lawfully-purchased guns to effectuate his terror. The need to stop these types of incidences is one of the many reasons I recently introduced three bills, designed to stem the tide of gun violence and limit the loss of life.

“The first is H.R. 4080, the Kimberly Vaughan Firearm Safe Storage Act. This bill regulates the proper storage of firearms and ammunition for residences with a minor or a person that is ineligible to own a firearm. With the changes in this bill, an individual would be restricted from storing a firearm in a residence under the control of a person that knows an individual under 18 is likely to get access to the firearm without their permission, or if there is a resident that is ineligible to possess a firearm under Federal, State, or local law. This bill would exempt those individuals who keep their firearms or ammunition secured, unloaded, and separately in a safe certified by the Attorney General and locked with a certified lock, or if it’s stored at a gun range or storage facility that is certified by the Attorney General. This bill has certain civil and criminal penalties for noncompliance.

“The second bill introduced was H.R. 4081, the Sabika Sheikh Firearm Licensing and Registration Act. This bill creates a process for the license and registration of firearms and the possession of certain ammunition. For the registry, each person will have to transmit the make, model, and serial number of the firearm, along with the identity of the owner, the date the firearm was acquired, and where the firearm will be stored. They must also include a notice of any person that may be loaned the firearm. This must be done within 3 months after the effective date for previously acquired firearms, and on the same day for any firearms acquired after the enactment of the bill. The bill also establishes a database of all registered firearms that is accessible to the public and all branches of government. The bill creates licensing requirements that includes a minimum age of 21, a criminal background check, a psychological evaluation, a certified training course, and an insurance policy. For an antique firearm display license or a military-style weapons license, there will be additional requirements for certification established by the Attorney General. This bill permits the Attorney General to be able to deny a license if the individual is prohibited by Federal law from possessing a firearm and if the individual has been hospitalized with mental illnesses (this includes diagnosis of depression, homicidal ideation, suicidal ideation, attempted suicide, and addiction) or on account of conduct that endangers self or others. For the transfer of firearms, this bill makes it unlawful for a person to transfer to a person who is not licensed or without the notification of the sale, loan, or gift to the Attorney General. Additionally, the bill makes it unlawful for possession of ammunition of 0.50 caliber or greater, as well as a large capacity ammunition feeding device. However, this does not apply to the United States or a State department, agency, or a political subdivision of a State, or a law enforcement officer. This also doesn’t apply to a licensee under title 1 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, a licensed manufacturer or importer, or an organization that provides training or is registered.

“Finally, the third bill introduced in this trio of gun safety bill was H.R. 4082, the Santa Fe High School Victims Act. This bill prohibits the purchase or sale of a firearm or ammunition unless it is through a federally licensed dealer that meets additional requirements. This bill also increases the cost to renew a license to deal in firearms other than destructive devices. An additional requirement for federally licensed firearms dealers is to report any instance in which the licensed dealer suspects a purchases is exhibiting signs of mental duress, or if the individual is attempting to purchases a firearm on behalf of another individual. This bill also requires the license to be displayed on the business premise, and requires the Attorney general to establish a toll-free phone number to report any violation of these requirements.

“In addition, in the coming days, I will be filing comprehensive legislation which bans all weapons of war. This will be multi-faceted legislation. First, it will include an assault weapons ban, and will also incorporate other weapons of war. According to a 2018 analysis published by the Washington Post, the number of gun massacres (incidents of 6 or more deaths), skyrocketed in 2004, following the expiration of the 1994 assault weapons ban signed into law by President Bill Clinton. The data shows that during the decade in which the assault weapons ban was in effect, the number of incidents of gun massacres was at 12, producing 89 deaths. In the decade following the expiration of the assault weapon ban, the number of deaths went up more than three-fold, from 89 to 302, and the incidences up to 34. And to those that believe that the political will to passing this legislation is nonexistent, it is worth reminding that an assault weapons ban is supported by seven in ten voters, including 54% of all Republicans.

“Second, this legislation will keep guns out of the hands of those individuals who should not have a gun “for a variety of reasons.” These laws prevent firearms from ending up in the hands of mentally-ill individuals, or former domestic partners deemed to pose a risk. In the aftermath of the shooting in El Paso, it became evident that the shooter’s mother called police to express concern about a firearm in her son’s hands. Unfortunately, Texas, nor the federal government, currently have these types of laws, nor do they exist on the federal level. Lastly, this forthcoming legislation will mandate the establishment of an internal task force, within the Department of Justice, comprised of relevant stakeholders which focuses on reducing and then eliminating the incidences of white nationalism, extremism and domestic terrorism.

“If we are serious about tackling gun violence, then we must take reasonable, commonsense steps towards that end. This is why, on September 3, 2019, I will be hosting a gun violence prevention summit and roundtable. This meeting will include members of law enforcement, medical professionals, statisticians, parents and community leaders. It will include stakeholders who, like me, are sickened by the incidences of mass shootings and gun violence. It will require attendees to explore how, collectively, we can stem the tide of this uniquely American scourge.

“All attending will recognize that this time cannot be a time where we do nothing. We must do something. This includes urging the Senate to pass pieces of legislation in the Senate which have already cleared the House of Representatives. In February, the House passed H.R. 8, legislation designed to implement universal background checks in all gun purchases, and H.R 1112, which would close the Charleston Loophole. Under H.R. 1112, the initial period a gun dealer must wait for an answer from the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) on the propriety of an applicant’s fitness to own a firearm, is extended from 3 to 10 days. If, after 10 days the NICS system has not returned an answer to the licensed firearms dealer, the prospective purchaser may file a petition with the Attorney General, which should help resolve most issues with applications. Passing commonsense gun violence prevention legislation also means ensuring that weapons of war are not readily accessible to the wholesale public, enabling the most perverse and dangerous to inflict carnage. It has worked in the past—there is no reason the success of an assault weapons ban cannot be successful once more. Passing commonsense gun violence prevention legislation also includes limiting the amount of ammunition readily available, so that the bloodshed inflicted by the shooter in Dayton is not again replicated. I will be unveiling my legislation on these matters at the gun violence prevention roundtable and summit.

“The time for action is now. Every day that passes, where we do not implement fundamental reforms, means Americans will die. These mass shootings will continue to occur. But we need not be complacent. We must realize that we have the will to change our fate. All that is required is the will to act. The support is there—Americans from all stripes recognize a problem and know something must be done. Public opinion polls have said as much for decades. What we must do now is be galvanized to act, and the Congress has before it no shortage of possible steps it can take. We must now simply act to stem the tide of gun violence. Enough is enough.”