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.