Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Bob Menendez
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today delivered remarks addressing gun violence in the United States and yesterday’s shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, prior to this morning’s full Committee hearing.
“Every day that goes by without commonsense gun reform is a setback in our ability to promote American virtue and values to the rest of the world,” said Sen. Menendez. “Guns — especially assault weapons equipped with high-capacity magazines — don’t belong in our communities, and in no circumstances should those who seek to do harm with such weapons have greater rights than the nation’s children to whom we have a precious obligation to protect.”
[embedded content]
Sen. Menendez has long been a strong leader on common sense gun legislation. He’s the author of the Keep Americans Safe Act, legislation that would ban high-capacity magazines that can hold over ten rounds. Sen. Menendez is also the lead cosponsor of the Federal Firearm Licensing Act, legislation that would require individuals to obtain a firearm license from the Department of Justice (DOJ) before purchasing or receiving a firearm. In 2020, Sen. Menendez Democratic colleagues in introducing the Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety Act – a comprehensive bill to end the epidemic of gun violence in America.
Below are Chairman Menendez’s comments as delivered:
“Before I deliver my opening remarks for this hearing, let me take a moment to acknowledge the senseless massacre at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas — an overwhelmingly Latino community. Once again we are faced with the heartache and despair of witnessing a mass shooting that takes the lives of children who — like any other kid in America — went to school to learn, not to be executed.
“Let us be clear. Every mass shooting is the result of a policy failure. Guns — especially assault weapons equipped with high capacity magazines — don’t belong in our communities, and in no circumstances should those who seek to do harm with such weapons have greater rights than the nation’s children to whom we have a precious obligation to protect.
“While our thoughts and prayers are with each one of the families that are grieving this unimaginable loss, we must go beyond thoughts and prayers and take action. Every day that goes by without commonsense gun reform is a setback in our ability to promote American virtue and values to the rest of the world.
“I have three granddaughters. One is in elementary school now – in kindergarten. She goes through active shooter drills. What are we waiting for? There must be some common ground on which we can ultimately come together to prevent these senseless acts of violence.”
###