Following Shooting at Colorado LGBTQ Club, Senator Schumer Must Hold Vote on Gun Violence Prevention as Amendment to Marriage Bill

November 20, 2022

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Guns Down America Executive Director Igor Volsky released the following statement after the mass shooting at a Colorado Springs LGBTQ club.

“I’m devastated, heartbroken, and so angry for the victims of this shooting and for their families. No one should wake up on the Transgender Day of Remembrance to another mass shooting, our 601st this year. This tragic shooting was perpetrated by a 22-year-old shooter carrying multiple firearms, including an AR-15 style assault rifle. Senator Schumer has the power to act and he should. When the Senate comes back into session after Thanksgiving break, Senator Schumer should schedule the House-passed assault weapons ban for a vote as an amendment on the Respect for Marriage Act.”

Background:

Over the last week, Guns Down has been working in coalition with March For Our Lives and Newtown Action Alliance to push the Senate to advance the House-passed bipartisan assault weapons ban and get it on the president’s desk before the end of the year. That work included a letter from more than 250 survivors of gun violence urging leadership to take action.

From the letter:

“Throughout your career, you have stood with us to support reinstating the federal assault weapons ban. But as the Senate Majority Leader and a champion on this issue, we expect more than words. In this Congress, you have found creative ways to pass significant legislation by bringing together reluctant members of your own party and, at times, senators from the other side of the aisle.

As survivors of gun violence, we implore you to apply the same level of energy and tenacity to finding a pathway for banning assault weapons before the new year, chasing down every last opportunity to get these deadly guns off our streets and save lives.”

The letter was developed by the Time Is Now Coalition, a group of gun violence prevention organizations dedicated to ensuring lawmakers live up to their campaign promises on gun reform.

During his post-midterms press conference on Wednesday, President Biden promised to build on the progress he has made to address the gun violence crisis and urged the Senate to “try like the devil” to ban assault weapons.