WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and Keith Ellison (D-MN) were joined by fellow CPC members today to accept a petition signed by more than 1 million Americans demanding Speaker Ryan schedule a vote on legislation reinstating the assault weapons ban that expired in September, 2004. The petition, which was organized by MoveOn.Org, CREDO Action, Democracy for America, The Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Daily Kos, and Ultraviolet was delivered on the one month anniversary of the attack on Latin night at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, the deadliest mass shooting in our nation’s history.
“As we mark one month since the most horrific mass shooting in our nation’s history, the American people expect their leaders to protect them from a repeat event. We must vote to restore the assault weapons ban immediately to ensure the public’s safety.
“More than one million Americans demanded a vote on an assault weapons ban today, and we urge our Republican colleagues in Congress to listen. One common factor connecting Orlando to Newtown, Aurora to San Bernardino, and now Dallas too, is the use of these rifles. Our gun laws allow easy access to weapons that are explicitly designed to kill. The connection between access to these guns, and their use against innocent people, is as urgent a problem for Congress to address as any other challenge we face.
“We are proud to stand with MoveOn.Org, Democracy for America, American Coalition for Responsible Gun Ownership, LGBTQ Taskforce Action Fund, Newtown Action Alliance and the more than one million people who understand that these weapons of war have no place on our streets.”
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