PRESS CONFERENCE: Gabrielle Giffords Stands with Elected Leaders, Advocates to Call on Senate Majority Leader to Pass Background Checks Bill
H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019, cleared the House over 100 days ago, has yet to be taken up by the Senate
Washington, DC — Tomorrow at 12:00 PM, former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Representatives Thompson, Deutch, and McBath will join gun violence prevention advocates at the United States Capitol Building for a press conference to call on the Senate to make our country safer by passing legislation to require a background check for every gun sale.
The press conference comes as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has declined to allow the Senate to vote or even debate H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 , which was introduced on the eighth anniversary of the mass shooting in Tucson that killed six and wounded 13, including Rep. Giffords. It passed the House of Representatives over 100 days ago with support from both Democrats and Republicans.
After the number of gun deaths in America reached its highest total in 40 years, the House of Representatives has responded by passing legislation, holding hearings about the crisis, and considering additional bills that could address the challenge. Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has refused to bring any proposals from the other chamber up for debate or consideration.
WHO:
- Former Representative Gabrielle Giffords
- Speaker Nancy Pelosi
- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer
- Senator Chris Murphy
- Senator Richard Blumenthal
- Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-05), House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Chairman
- Congresswoman Lucy McBath (GA-06), House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Vice Chair
- Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-22), House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Chief Whip
- National advocates and activists
WHERE: Area 10 // United States Capitol
WHEN: Thursday, June 20 at 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM
RSVP: Members of the media planning to cover this event should RSVP by emailing media@giffords.org.