Washington D.C. (November 1, 2023)—Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and Committee Members, Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost and Rep. Jared Moskowitz, released the following statements announcing Committee Democrats’ roundtable to examine the epidemic of gun violence and reforms to prevent the senseless loss of life:

“Without meaningful legislative action, more thoughts and prayers won’t do anything to end gun violence.  In the wake of another domestic massacre with an AR-15, this time in Lewiston, Maine, I’m urging Republicans to finally join Democrats in prioritizing American lives over the gun industry’s profits and the NRA’s lies about the meaning of the Second Amendment.  Committee Democrats have proposed effective policy reforms to end the gun violence, and they are all within our constitutional power to promote public safety.   In the coming weeks, we will host a roundtable to hear from new voices outraged by the gun-fueled breakdown of civil peace in America and new choices we can make to reduce the gun violence ravaging our communities,” said Ranking Member Raskin.

“As our communities once again reel from the senseless loss of life in Maine and the even more senseless void of Congressional action, it’s critical we hear from survivors and leaders in the gun violence prevention movement to discuss a coordinated response to these tragedies.  Our communities, the innocent victims, and the families who have lost loved ones deserve more than our thoughts and prayers, they deserve our commitment to a path forward, to a world without gun violence,” said Rep. Maxwell Frost.

“On February 14, 2018, my hometown of Parkland was shattered after a gunman walked into my alma mater, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, and took the lives of 17 innocent people.  No community should ever have to go through what mine did.  After Parkland, I took action as a Florida legislator to pass the most comprehensive gun violence legislation in our state’s history – implementing red flag laws and raising the age to buy a gun to 21.  Now, it is time for Congress to take concrete steps to prevent these tragedies.  We no longer need moments of silence, we need moments of action,” said Rep. Jared Moskowitz.

Firearm deaths among children grew by 87% from 2011 to 2021.  Gun violence is now the leading cause of death among children and adults under the age of 20. 

This roundtable will be held in the coming weeks and is a continuation of Committee Democrats’ longstanding efforts to address the gun violence epidemic.

On June 8, 2022, the Oversight Committee held a landmark hearing with survivors and affected individuals from the nation’s mass shootings in Buffalo, New York, and Uvalde, Texas.

On July 27, 2022, two leading firearm manufacturers testified in an Oversight Committee hearing to examine the role of the firearms industry in fueling the nation’s gun violence epidemic. 

The same day, Committee Democrats issued a memorandum as part of the Committee’s investigation of the gun industry, detailing profits, sales and marketing strategies, and other irresponsible business practices of the most profitable gun manufacturers.

Additional details to follow.

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