DeLauro Keeps Up Fight to Prevent Gun Violence

Backs Stronger Background Checks, Will Speak AtWednesday Event

WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) announcedtoday she has co-sponsored two pieces of legislation that would help preventguns from falling into the hands of criminals. This Wednesday, she will speakat the University of New Haven on the need for greater investment intoresearching gun violence.

"Last week the United States Senate told the Newtown families‘sorry, you're on your own.' There are some issues where you have to vote yourconscious and background checks is one of them. This is not about an election;this is about saving people's lives. We need continue to push until we canshame enough people into doing the right thing.

"And I will fight tooth-and-nail against any attempts tolimit federal research into gun violence. The President's executive order was agood start, but Congress needs to make clear that there are absolutely norestrictions on researchers' ability to research compile and analyze the dataon gun-related violence."

Fellow Connecticut Congressman John Larson has introduced aHouse version of the bipartisan agreement on background checks struck bySenators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Pat Toomey (R-PA). Reps. Mike Thompson (D-CA)and Peter King (R-NY) have also introduced the Manchin-Toomey language. DeLaurois a co-sponsor of both bills.

Currently, a criminal can buy a firearm in the parking lotof a gun show, over the internet, or through a newspaper ad without abackground check. The Manchin-Toomey agreement closes these loopholes whileensuring that background checks are conducted in the same way federallylicensed dealers have for more than 40 years.

DeLauro has been outspoken on the importance offederal research into firearms. Earlier this year, she led several of hercolleagues in writing a letterto Vice President Biden urging him to support increased gun research in histask force's recommendations to the President. He did, and President Obamasubsequently signed an Executive Order directing the Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention to research the causes and prevention of gun violence.However, funding still needs to be provided specifically for this effort andDeLauro will fight for that.