Pallone, Students, and Advocates Call for Action to Reduce Gun Violence & Make our Schools Safe

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 5, 2018




Long Branch, N.J. – Today at Asbury Park High School, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) met with students, administration and advocates to discuss the gun violence epidemic facing our communities every day. According to the Center for Disease Control, New Jersey had 475 firearm deaths in 2015. Just last week, 10-year old Yovanni Banos-Merino was tragically shot outside his home in Asbury Park. The discussion took place as young people throughout the country have demanded change after the tragic shooting in Parkland, FL.

“We cannot accept it as normal when a 10 year old is shot and killed outside his home,” said Pallone. “We cannot accept it as normal that students throughout New Jersey must go to school afraid.”

“I have been inspired by the millions of Americans, many of them young people, who are now calling for action to bring about common sense solutions to reduce gun violence,” said Pallone. “We cannot allow this moment to pass without enacting change and your voice is essential to ensuring that Congress does not look the other way. I want you to know that I will do everything within my power to enact legislation to combat the gun violence epidemic facing our nation.”

Congressman Pauline supports numerous common sense solutions to reduce gun violence and help keep our children safe.

They include:

· An assault weapons ban, which will ban weapons of war like the AR-15, which has been used in mass shootings in places like Las Vegas, Aurora, Newtown, & Parkland.
· Increasing penalties for “straw purchasers” who illegally purchase firearms with the intent to sell or gift them to individuals who should not have them.
· Regulating the sale of firearms at gun shows and online, requiring a background check on all purchases (currently not required by many states).
· Banning high capacity magazines.
· Regulating the online sale of ammunition, conversion kits (to turn into military-style rifles), and large capacity ammunition feeding devices.
· Allowing the CDC and other government agencies to use federal dollars to research gun violence and gun violence prevention – which the gun lobby & @GOP has blocked for more than 20 years.

Pallone, Watson Coleman, Local Leaders and Advocates Call on Congress to Combat Gun Violence

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 6, 2017



NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ– Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (LD-15), Highland Park Mayor Gayle Brill Mittler and advocates for reducing gun violence held a press conference calling for action in the aftermath of the tragic shooting in Las Vegas. East Brunswick Mayor Brad Cohen and representatives from The Coalition for Peace Action, NJ Million Mom March, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, New Jersey State Nurses Association, New Jersey American Academy of Pediatrics and Moms Demand Action expressed their support for reducing gun violence at the event.

The press conference focused on the impact that gun violence has had on different communities throughout the country. Pallone and Watson Coleman called on Congressional Republicans to support common sense measures such as banning those on the terrorist watch list from purchasing firearms, banning assault weapons and requiring ID for online ammunition sales.

“The plague of gun violence in our communities is completely unacceptable,” said Pallone. “As Members of Congress, it is not enough to ask for a moment of silence. It is not enough to express our thoughts and prayers. It is not enough to call for action, we must enact change. We are far beyond the point as lawmakers and as Americans at which we must answer a basic question: Can we stand up to special interests and enact the sensible, bipartisan gun reforms that a majority of Americans want and can save lives? We owe the victims of the horrific tragedies in Las Vegas, Orlando, Newtown and so many more who face less headline-grabbing gun violence in their communities every day a meaningful policy change to reduce these tragedies.”

“Sensible gun safety reform and the fight to achieve it have literal life-and-death consequences,” said Watson Coleman. “We cannot pass up another blatant opportunity to pass bipartisan, common sense gun legislation that would not only make our communities safer but also safe-guard families nationwide from the heartbreak and devastation of losing a loved one to gun violence. Stubborn adherence to an agenda without thinking through what could change to make us safer is the height of irresponsibility. New Jerseyans did not send me to Washington simply to mourn them when they get shot; they sent me here to protect them -- it is our job as Members of Congress job to fix our current broken, fatal system of gun laws.”

Watson Coleman introduced and Pallone co-sponsored The Stop Online Ammunition Sales Act, which requires federally licensed ammunitions dealers to confirm the identity of individuals who arrange to purchase ammunition over the internet by verifying their identity in person with a photo I.D. The bill also requires ammunition vendors to report any sales of more than 1,000 rounds within five consecutive days to the U.S. Attorney General if the person purchasing ammunition is not a licensed dealer.

As the Ranking Member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee Congressman Pallone has been a leader in the fight to eliminate the ban on research on the public health impact of gun violence at the CDC and NIH. He is a cosponsor of the Gun Violence Research Act, which would repeal current ban on that research.

Pallone Statement on Nevada Decision to Treat Daily Fantasy Sports as Gambling

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 16, 2015


WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) made the following statement on the Nevada Gaming Commission’s decision that daily fantasy sports is gambling and that its websites must stop operating in the state until companies and their employees acquire state gambling licenses. Pallone is the Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over professional sports and gambling.

“Nevada’s move to require daily fantasy sports operators to acquire gaming licenses is the right one, because just like sports betting at casinos and tracks, daily fantasy sports is gambling. Both forms of gaming should be legal and regulated. However, as they stand now – with illegal sports betting forced into the multi-billion dollar black market and with a totally unregulated daily fantasy sports industry – both are operating in the shadows. The decision by Nevada increases the momentum for the Congressional hearing we need to review the legal status of fantasy sports and sports betting.”

Chris Christie’s Vegas Vacation

From Josh Levitt
Buono for Governor


New Jersey’s economy is lagging behind the rest of the country. With over 400,000 New Jerseyans out of work, property taxes continuing to rise and middle class families struggling to make ends meet, there is much that needs to be done to restore New Jersey’s economy. Yet instead of focusing on New Jersey, Governor Christie spent yesterday in Las Vegas to "kiss the ring" of a conservative billionaire who wasted over $100 million in 2012 in failed attempt to defeat President Obama. It’s clear that Christie’s top concern is chasing cash and support in advance of his 2016 presidential campaign, not lifting up New Jersey families and workers.

Christie heads to Vegas for event with GOP mega-donor
By Catalina Camia//USA Today
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie apparently has decided it's not stupid to visit Las Vegas in the summer. The Las Vegas Sun reports Christie, a Republican running for a second term, plans to be in town Thursday for a fundraiser hosted by casino mogul Sheldon Adelson and his wife, Miriam. Adelson, the biggest political donor in the 2012 elections, and his wife contributed about $92 million to super PACs and other groups aligned with Republicans.

Chris Christie at Sheldon Adelson fundraiser in Las Vegas
By Maggie Haberman//Politico
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is attending a gubernatorial fundraiser in Las Vegas Thursday hosted by casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson and his wife Miriam, a source familiar with the event confirmed to POLITICO.
… Adelson single-handidly funded a pro-Newt Gingrich super PAC that kept the presidential candidate alive in the 2012 primaries for a time.

No time for beer, Christie heads to Vegas for fundraising with casino billionaire
By Alexandra Jaffe//The Hill
… But many Republicans believe Christie is also preparing for a 2016 White House bid. The event with Adelson, one of 2012's top Republican donors, in an early caucus state, is likely to fuel rather than dampen those rumors.
… Adelson spent at least $98 million on the 2012 election, initially to back Newt Gingrich's ill-fated run.

Christie To Attend Private Adelson Fundraiser In Vegas
By Perry Stein//Talking Points Memo
… “Why is the New Jersey governor coming here in the middle of the summer if he’s not running for president, and particularly hosted by an individual who has actively been involved in fundraising for Republicans?” Eric Herzik, a UNR professor of political science, told the Sun. “He’s giving every indication that even though he’s running for re-election as governor, he could be tempted to run for president. It wouldn’t surprise me if this is a get-to-know-you session on behalf of both sides (Christie and Adelson).”

Chris Christie finds a reason to visit Las Vegas in the dead of summer
By Andrew Doughman//Las Vegas Sun
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie plans to visit Las Vegas on Thursday for a private fundraiser hosted by Sheldon and Miriam Adelson at the Palazzo. The event is technically for Christie’s gubernatorial re-election campaign this year, but it’s never too early for a potential presidential contender to visit an early caucus state.

Republican donor Sheldon Adelson hosts Christie at Las Vegas fundraiser
By Jenna Portnoy//The Star-Ledger
Conservative casino magnate and major Republican donor Sheldon Adelson and his wife will host a fundraiser for Gov. Chris Christie in Las Vegas today, The Las Vegas Sun reported. While in town for the private fundraiser, the Republican governor will also deliver a speech at the Kipp charter school conference. Then Christie heads to Milwaukee for annual summer meetings of the National Governors Association before going on vacation at the shore next week.

Christie flouts own advice for Vegas fundraiser
By Melissa Hayes//The Record
Governor Christie once said someone would have to be stupid to go to Las Vegas in the middle of summer as he made a pitch for tourism in Atlantic City. But against his own advice, the Republican planned to hit the strip Thursday and entertain donors at The Palazzo, a top-rated luxury resort owned by Sheldon Adelson. The Las Vegas Sands Corp. chief executive officer and his wife, Miriam, hosted the event, according to the Las Vegas Sun.
… Adelson — who pledged to spend $100 million in an attempt to defeat President Obama last year — reportedly gave $150 million to candidates, committees and special interest groups supporting Republicans.

Is billionaire Adelson funding Christie's 2016 prez run?
By Matt Katz//Philadelphia Inquirer
Sheldon Adelson, the casino magnate who is believed to have given more money to an election in 2012 than any other person in history -- including a whopping $92 million to 2012 Republican candidates via a series of outside groups -- is holding a fundraiser today for Gov. Christie at The Palazzo in Las Vegas. The fundraiser is technically for Christie's re-election campaign, but c'mon, Adelson doesn't strike me as a guy who plays small-ball state politics. He plays for the presidency, and this has 2016 written all over it. Adelson essentially subsidized Newt Gingrich's campaign in 2012 before moving over to Mitt Romney. A staunch supporter of Israel, Adelson might have appreciated Christie's controversial and hawkish comments last week. He also probably likes that the gov visited Israel last year. I emailed Bill Palatucci, Christie's campaign chairman, but he said he wouldn't give me details about how many people attended the fundraiser -- or more importantly, how much money was raised.