Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney's Opening Statement

Washington D.C. (June 3, 2022)—On Wednesday, June 8, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. ET, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, the Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, will hold a hearing to examine the gun violence epidemic in the United States.  To date, there have been more than 200 mass shootings in 2022.

“After 19 innocent children and two teachers lost their lives in Texas just ten days after the mass shooting in my home state of New York, I’m turning my anger into action.  Our hearing will examine the terrible impact of gun violence and the urgent need to rein in the weapons of war used to perpetrate these crimes.  It is my hope that all my colleagues will listen with an open heart as gun violence survivors and loved ones recount one of the darkest days of their lives.  This hearing is ultimately about saving lives, and I hope it will galvanize my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass legislation to do just that,” said Chairwoman Maloney.

On May 14, 2022, an 18-year-old gunman, armed with an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle, opened fire on shoppers and workers at a Tops supermarket in Buffalo, New York.  The racially motivated and meticulously planned shooting killed 10 and seriously injured three others.

On May 24, 2022, another 18-year-old gunman entered Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, and opened fire on children and teachers in their classrooms. The mass shooting, perpetrated by another AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle, claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers.

The Committee has been examining gun violence in the United States for several years, and in 2019 launched an investigation into gun dealers that sell guns used in crimes.  On April 28, 2022, the Committee released preliminary findings from its investigation, showing that a small number of gun dealers—particularly those in states with lax gun laws—have sold thousands of guns used in violent crimes.

On May 27, 2022, the Committee sent letters to five leading manufacturers of semi-automatic rifles for information related to the manufacture, marketing, and sales of their weapons, to understand how these guns are fueling the gun violence epidemic and to inform gun safety legislation.

The hearing will examine the urgent need for Congress to pass commonsense legislation that a majority of Americans support.  This includes legislation to ban assault weapons and bolster background checks on gun purchases, while respecting the rights of law-abiding gun owners.