Commentary

Advocates and Reformers Support Hillary Clinton’s Reforms to Tackle Gun Violence


NEW YORK—(ENEWSPF)—October 5, 2015. On Monday, Hillary Clinton outlined a set of commonsense reforms to tackle gun violence that she would seek to enact as president. Following her announcement, advocates for preventive reforms – from Gabby Giffords to the Brady Campaign to elected officials from states affected by mass shooting tragedies – issued statements of support for Clinton’s approach. 

Some key responses to Clinton’s proposals are below: 

Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and Captain Mark Kelly, co-founders of Americans for Responsible Solutions: “We applaud Hillary Clinton for laying out exactly what she would do if elected president to make our communities safer from gun violence. Commonsense steps like closing the loopholes in our laws that let dangerous people buy guns without a background check, keeping guns out of the hands of domestic abusers and stalkers, and cracking down on the illegal gun trade would help reduce gun violence and save lives – all while respecting the Second Amendment rights of responsible gun owners.” 

Dan Gross, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence: “We applaud Hillary Clinton for putting the safety of the American people above the special interests of the corporate gun lobby. Just four years ago it seemed unthinkable that a major presidential candidate would make gun violence prevention a cornerstone of his or her platform. This is a major victory for the 90% of Americans who support expanding Brady background checks to all gun sales and is further evidence that we are at a tipping point on this issue. This is exactly the type of leadership that has been sorely missing in Washington.” 

Mark Glaze, former executive director of Everytown for Gun Safety: “The last time we made big progress on guns, a Clinton was in the White House, and we saved a lot of lives.  But the assault weapon ban President Clinton helped pass is long gone, and the background check system he helped build is effective, but incomplete.  Secretary Clinton is pledging to pursue the change that moms and mayors and millions of Americans are asking for, and she deserves huge credit for calling out the NRA and saying it like it is.  If you agree that 45 school shootings in 2015 is too many, and you agree with President Obama that voters should only support candidates who agree, you have a great candidate in Mrs. Clinton.” 

Senator Tim Kaine, who represents Virginia: “I agree w/ @HillaryClinton. We must act to prevent gun violence that’s plaguing our society.”

Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty, whose district includes Newtown, Connecticut: “I commend @HillaryClinton on her plan to fight for commonsense reforms to prevent gun violence.”

Senator Chris Murphy, who represents Connecticut: “No presidential candidate cares more, says more, does more, about stopping gun violence than @HillaryClinton.”

Governor Dan Malloy of Connecticut.@HillaryClinton is absolutely right. It’s past time we act on gun violence.

Congressman Mike Thompson of California, chair of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force: “We cannot let America’s new normal become mass gun violence followed by thoughts and prayers and no action. When tragedies keep occurring, leaders step up to help stop them. And that’s exactly what Hillary Clinton did this morning. She put forward a comprehensive plan of commonsense steps that would help keep guns from criminals, domestic abusers and the dangerously mentally ill. Her plan does two important things: it respects the Second Amendment Rights of law-abiding gun owners like me, and it keeps guns away from people we all agree shouldn’t have them. While Republicans in Congress continue to turn a blind eye, and GOP Presidential candidates callously dismiss horrific acts of mass gun violence, Hillary is fighting for our families and for the safety of our communities. I look forward to fighting this fight by her side, and putting policies in place that will both respect the rights of gun owners and save the lives of thousands of Americans.”

Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, who represents New York’s 8th Congressional District: “Hillary Clinton’s gun violence prevention plan would prevent senseless tragedies in NYC and across America. It’s time to act.”

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who represents New York: “Great to see @HillaryClinton propose tough new ideas to #StopGunViolence.”                                 

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who represents Texas’s 18th Congressional District: “Secretary Clinton is correct – it is time to act on Gun Violence in this Country.”

Congressman Hank Johnson, Jr., who represents Georgia’s 4th Congressional District: “I am firmly behind Hillary Clinton’s gun control plan. We must close the loopholes, expand background checks and elect a president that is committed to addressing this problem. Gun violence is out of control. It’s time to step up and demand action.”

New York City Public Advocate Tish James: “From massacres that make the front page to shootings on our neighborhood streets, we are facing a crisis of gun violence in this country. We have said ‘the time is now’ too often. I applaud Hillary Clinton for rolling out an aggressive gun control proposal, and making this a central point of her campaign. Her determination to close the gun show loophole, the Charleston loophole, and to prevent domestic abusers from obtaining firearms are exactly the type of leadership we need. I am particularly heartened by her push to repeal legal immunity for gun manufacturers and dealers.”

Nicole Hockley, mother of a child killed in Newtown and managing director at Sandy Hook Promise, at a town hall with Clinton in New Hampshire Monday: “As part of Sandy Hook Promise, we focus very much on gun safety legislation and the commonsense practices that you’re speaking of. So thank you so much for taking this on and speaking out. We also very much focus on what can we do to get ahead of the violence, get upstream of it, and help identify and intervene, to help people learn how to notice signs of someone who’s at risk and get help before they even get to the state of picking up a weapon to hurt someone else. I think it’s a comprehensive solution that’s needed between gun access and responsibility, as well as mental health and wellness, and working together with all the other organizations and all the other people, as well as yourself, I have absolute faith that we can deliver this solution and protect children across America.”

For a fact sheet detailing Clinton’s proposals to tackle gun violence in our communities, click here.

Source: www.hillaryclinton.com

 


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