After yesterday’s horrific shooting in Parkland, Florida, House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) spoke on the House floor to mourn the victims and demand once again that Congress finally take action to address gun violence in America:
Ranking Member Nadler delivered the following remarks on the House floor:
“Before we discuss the bill before us today, I want to address the horrific school shooting in Florida yesterday. We mourn the deaths of those shot and killed, and we support those who were injured and the families of the victims, but we must also do more to prevent future shootings in our schools and on our streets.
“There have been 18 school shootings in this country so far this year, and it is only February. According to a Washington Post analysis, over the last 19 years ‘more than 150,000 students attending at least 170 primary or secondary schools have experienced a shooting on campus.’ And that does not include violence outside of the classroom. We cannot allow this to continue.
“It is long past due for the House to consider legislation on this floor to help prevent gun violence. Our calls for hearings and for action on gun violence prevention legislation have been met with silence. Congress did nothing after Columbine 20 years ago, and nothing after Sandy Hook five years ago. Inaction is unacceptable, and moments of silence are completely inadequate. Our citizens demand that we act without delay.”
On November 7, 2017, Judiciary Democrats sent a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte to request that the Committee’s ATF briefing be conducted as a public hearing, and that the FBI be included to discuss background check issues.
On November 1, 2017, all House Judiciary Democrats sent a letter to Chairman Bob Goodlatte, urging him to hold hearings on gun violence in America.
On October 2, 2017, immediately following the Las Vegas shooting, Judiciary Democrats sent a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte to renew their call for hearings on these issues.
