DeLauro Statement on Sensible Gun Violence Prevention

WASHINGTON, DC (December 10, 2015) — Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today released the following statement on ending the federal ban on gun violence research, as well as Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy’s decision restricting gun permits for individuals on the Terrorist Watch List.

“We must end the federal ban on gun violence research that is stopping us from studying the ways in which gun violence is tearing apart American communities. In the three years since the shocking and horrific shooting in Newtown, more than 1,000 mass shootings have taken place across the country. And these mass shootings are just a small fraction of firearm deaths in America, which total more than 32,000 each year. Even Jay Dickey – the former Republican Congressman who led efforts to ban federal research – agrees, ‘doing nothing is no longer an acceptable solution.’”

“Governor Dan Malloy made the right decision to issue an executive order to ban gun permits for individuals on the Terrorist Watch List. From 2004 to 2014, more than 2000 people on the watch list were able to legally purchase guns in America, making our communities more susceptible to gun violence and terror attacks. Now that Connecticut has led the nation with a sensible change to gun policy, it is time for Congress to do the same. For the safety of the American people, Congress must close this dangerous loophole.”

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