Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Bob Menendez
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both D-N.J.) today joined Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) in announcing the formation of the first Senate Gun Violence Prevention Caucus. Members of the caucus will work together to promote commonsense solutions to battle the epidemic of gun violence plaguing the United States. In addition to coordinating efforts in the Senate, and with the House, the caucus has the goal of holding additional hearings and briefings on key gun violence issues beyond the work of Senate committees.
“As Members of Congress, we have a moral responsibility to do everything in our power to put a stop to the scourge of gun violence affecting communities all across America,” said Sen. Menendez. “I am thrilled to join several of my colleagues as an inaugural member of the Senate Gun Violence Prevention Caucus. I look forward to working to create a more strategic and coordinated approach to prevent gun violence and to build greater consensus in the Senate to advance gun safety legislation that will make our communities safer and save lives.”
“Communities across the country are impacted by the tragedy of gun violence on a daily basis,” said Sen. Cory Booker. “The gun violence epidemic that is ravaging our communities, including my home of Newark, has been allowed to fester for too long, even as many communities have gun injury rates similar to war zones. It’s going to take bold, innovative, and smart ideas to tackle this challenge and keep our cities safe. That is why I am proud to join my colleagues in launching the Gun Violence Prevention Caucus to advance commonsense gun safety policies to save lives.”
Issues that the caucus may focus on include:
- Successes and failures of state-level gun violence prevention laws and how they may be applied at a federal level;
- Strategies to engage local communities in the fight against gun violence;
- Best practices for gun violence prevention advocacy;
- Opportunities to engage with the administration and executive branch to address gun violence;
- Strategies for drafting gun safety legislation that preserve constitutional rights and will avoid frivolous lawsuits.
“Gun violence is unfortunately an issue that touches every American, regardless of party, and the creation of this caucus will help senators better respond to gun violence and coordinate comprehensive gun safety policies. We applaud Sen. Feinstein and the caucus members for taking this important step in bringing attention to and addressing this important issue,” said Kris Brown, president of Brady.
“Last year, the Senate passed major gun legislation for the first time in nearly 30 years – and this year, a gun violence prevention caucus will come together to build on that momentum and save lives. We applaud Senator Feinstein for bringing this caucus together, and we urge the entire Senate to listen to their voters and champion common-sense gun safety laws to keep guns out of dangerous hands,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety.
“Too many communities and families know the toll of gun violence and the trauma it leaves behind whether it comes in the form of a suicide, accidental death, or community violence. Last year, there were more mass shootings than days in the year, and so far 2023 is following the same pattern. Our nation will never be able to end this epidemic without elected officials who have the courage to act and pass commonsense legislation. That’s why we are so excited and grateful for the new Gun Violence Prevention Caucus in the Senate, and we look forward to working with these dedicated gun safety champions to advance policy solutions that will enhance public safety and save lives,” said Adzi Vokhiwa, federal affairs director for Giffords.
Sens. Menendez and Booker have long been strong leaders on commonsense gun legislation, and last year both worked to pass the bipartisan Safer Communities Act – the first major piece of gun safety legislation passed by Congress in decades.
Sen. Menendez is the author of the Keep Americans Safe Act, legislation that would ban high-capacity magazines that can hold over ten rounds and the Help Empower Americans to Respond (HEAR) Act, legislation that would ban gun silencers or suppressors. Last June, Sen. Menendez also introduced the 3D Printed Gun Safety Act, which would prohibit the online distribution of blueprints and instructions that allow for the 3D printing of firearms. Sen. Booker is the author 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, and The Break the Cycle of Violence Act, a bill that would provide federal grants to communities for evidence-based gun violence intervention and prevention programs designed to interrupt cycles of violence. The Senators plan to reintroduce these bills in the 118th Congress and plan to work with members of the Senate Gun Violence Prevention Caucus to advance solutions in the Senate such as an assault weapons ban that will help tackle the epidemic of gun violence affecting the country.
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