Media Contact: Patrick Wright -- Patrick.Wright@mail.house.gov
Washington, D.C. — Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. issued the following statement regarding the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas today that left at least 19 children and two teachers dead. The incident is the latest example of domestic terrorism and gun violence in America, a country that has an estimated 400 million guns owned by residents. This year alone, there have been 212 mass shootings in the U.S. that have claimed the lives of more than 7,500 Americans, including 134 children.
“I want to send my most heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the children and teacher who were murdered today. As a father of triplets and anti-gun violence advocate, this mass shooting affects me on a personal level. We have got to stop this insanity and obsession America has with mass shootings. These were children who were at school, a place that is supposed to be a safe haven for them to learn and develop. Yet, it appears there isn’t a single place in the country that is safe from the evils of domestic terrorism.
We have passed bills in the House to conduct better background checks. We are ready to prevent terrorists and criminals from getting guns and murdering innocent Americans. Yet, the Senate does nothing and legislatures around the country do nothing. We are still mourning the victims of the horrific and racist mass shooting in a Buffalo, NY supermarket last week. I don’t know what else has to happen for people, and especially Republican elected representatives, to realize that gun violence and domestic terrorism is a serious threat to the safety and stability of our country. We must take this threat seriously and do everything we can to protect all Americans.”
Original source can be found here.
