Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy
WASHINGTON–U.S Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) joined U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-Pa.) in introducing the Resources for Victims of Gun Violence Act to help all victims of gun violence—from survivors to their loved ones, coworkers, and classmates—identify and access the resources available to them to help meet medical, legal, financial, and other needs. The bill would establish an interagency Advisory Council to help victims navigate and use these resources, streamlining what can be a complex process in a nation of gun violence survivors. More than 110 people die by guns every day, and more than 200 are shot and injured.
“When we talk about gun violence, the focus is usually on how many people have been killed or injured. But these statistics don’t come close to capturing the scope of this crisis. There are ripples of grief and long-term trauma that wash over communities impacted by gun violence. The least we can do is make sure that survivors, family and friends, and community members get the support they need to begin picking up the pieces,” said Murphy.
“Confronting tragedy and despair, all who suffer gun violence need more help and support— whether they’re individual survivors, grieving families or broken communities. This measure will enable healing and recovery for countless victims and survivors who lack access to necessary resources. Addressing trauma and tragedy right away can be critical, which means access to aid must be streamlined, as we seek here,” said Blumenthal.
“While we continue to fight for commonsense measures to prevent gun violence in our communities, we owe it to survivors and their loved ones and caregivers to make sure they have the support they need to recover and move forward from gun violence,” Casey said. “The Resources for Victims of Gun Violence Act will better connect survivors, families, and caregivers to resources that support their recovery and help them manage the long-term of effects of these preventable tragedies.”
The Resources for Victims of Gun Violence Act would:
- Address these challenges by establishing an Advisory Council to help all victims of gun violence— from survivors to their loved ones, coworkers, and classmates—identify and access the resources available to them to help meet a wide range of personal needs.
- Convene representatives across a variety of federal agencies, victim assistance professionals such as medical specialists and social workers, and victims of gun violence to lead the Council.
- Require the Council to assess the comprehensive needs of victims of gun violence and in turn, gather and disseminate information about the resources, programs, and benefits available to victims to help meet their needs.
- Require the Council to submit a report to Congress on its findings related to these resources and identify any gaps in policy that the government could address.
U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) cosponsored the legislation.
The bill is supported by Everytown for Gun Safety, Brady, Giffords, March for Our Lives, Newtown Action Alliance, Junior Newtown Action Alliance, States United To Prevent Gun Violence, Survivors Empowered, Community Justice Action Fund, and National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
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