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NewDEAL Statement on the Anniversary of Gun Safety Legislation: We Must Build on the Progress of the Safer Communities Act

News Category: Statements and Press Releases

For Immediate Release

Contact: Jared DeWese, 202-450-9980, jared@newdealleaders.org

NewDEAL Statement on the Anniversary of Gun Safety Legislation: We Must Build on the Progress of the Safer Communities Act

Debbie Cox Bultan, CEO Of NewDEAL Leaders, says the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act was a critical first step to reducing the epidemic of gun violence.

Statement from Debbie Cox-Bultan, CEO of NewDEAL Leaders, on the Second Anniversary of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act:

"On the second anniversary of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act becoming law, NewDEAL applauds President Biden’s leadership on the issue of gun safety. This key piece of legislation strengthens background checks, keeps guns out of the hands of domestic abusers, and incentivizes “red flag” laws to prevent dangerous people from owning or keeping deadly weapons. This bill, a critical first step to reducing the epidemic of gun violence, shows that bipartisan progress is still possible.

In addition to President Biden’s leadership, state and local leaders are vital to keeping our communities safe from gun violence. We’re proud that NewDEAL state legislators were among those that helped pass more than 80 gun safety policies in 2023 and fought for policies like strengthening background checks, enacting red flag laws, addressing untraceable “ghost guns,” and closing loopholes that allow violent criminals easy access to guns. These common-sense solutions are needed because Americans should have the freedom to go to concerts, attend worship services, and send their children to school without the fear of gun violence.

The anniversary of the Safer Communities Act comes just days after far-right Justices on the Supreme Court overturned an executive order banning bump stocks, which allow individuals to convert a semi-automatic rifle into a weapon that can fire hundreds of rounds per minute. This misguided ruling puts our communities at risk of attacks like the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas, where more than a thousand rounds were fired into a crowd, killing 60 people and injuring more than 800. Following the ruling, Senate Republicans abandoned the bipartisan spirit of two years ago by obstructing legislative efforts to ban bump stocks.

Moving forward, NewDEAL will continue to work with elected officials who want to make our communities, states, and nation safe from gun violence."