Gun Violence

Rep. Beyer (D-VA) today joined House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, survivors of gun violence, and his colleagues Rep. Anthony Brown (D-MD), Donald Payne Jr. (D-NJ), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), and Eliot Engel (D-NY) in the U.S. Capitol to call on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to take up and pass H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act. His remarks, below (as prepared), were… Read more »

WTOP |  In the wake of the mass shootings that killed 31 in Texas and Ohio, gun violence victims joined House Democratic leaders Tuesday and urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to allow a vote and pass expanded gun-sale background checks. More than 9,000 people have died so far this year as a result of gun violence, including more than 250 in mass shootings. Twenty-two… Read more »

The Hill |  A handful of House Democrats returned to Washington on Tuesday to press House Republicans to tackle gun control immediately, and to accuse Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) of single-handedly blocking tougher laws at the expense of public safety.  Democrats have long sought legislation to expand background checks before gun sales, which… Read more »

U.S. News & World Report |  A number of House Democrats on Tuesday briefly returned to Washington in the midst of their six-week recess to ramp up pressure on Senate Republicans to consider a bill the lower chamber passed on universal background checks for gun buyers after recent deadly mass shootings. During a Tuesday press conference led by House Majority Leader Steny… Read more »

Newsweek |  House Democrats continued Tuesday to push Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, to immediately recall his chamber from August recess to act on gun control legislation passed by the House earlier this year. In an attempt to up the ante and take their case directly to the American people, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat, and… Read more »

Associated Press |  Democrats pressed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday to approve House-passed legislation expanding background checks and to take other steps curbing guns, in an offensive fueled by public outrage over this month’s mass killings in Texas and Ohio. It seemed unlikely that Democrats’ moves would have much impact on top Republicans. While… Read more »

U.S. Representatives Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Ted Deutch (D-FL), and Don Beyer (D-VA), the sponsor and lead co-sponsors of the Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) Act, today responded to President Trump’s televised address regarding the weekend’s mass shootings, during which he announced his support “for ‘Red Flag’ laws, also known as Extreme Risk Protection… Read more »

Washington Post |  Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-Va.) on Friday introduced a bill that would allow law enforcement officers to block people who they determine are a danger to themselves or others from buying gun silencers and machine guns. The freshman from northern Virginia filed the legislation in response to the May 31 shooting in Virginia Beachthat killed 12 people. The… Read more »

Newsweek | A chorus of Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee is now calling for an investigation into the National Rifle Association’s tax-exempt status after an explosive report from The New Yorker detailed alleged financial improprieties at the gun rights organization. On Thursday, Congressman Brad Schneider, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee,… Read more »

Rep. Beyer today cast his vote for H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019, introduced by Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA). The bill, which would extend a federal requirement of background checks to cover firearm sales from unlicensed sellers including gun shows and internet vendors, passed with bipartisan support. Rep. Beyer said: “At last. “The House just passed some of the… Read more »