For Release: Thursday, March 1, 2018
Washington, DC—In response to the gun violence prevention plan announced today by Senate Democrats, Violence Policy Center Legislative Director Kristen Rand Issued the following statement:
“The time to act to reduce gun violence is now, before America experiences the next deadly mass shooting. An effective plan to ban assault weapons and enhance and expand background checks is imperative if we are to avert a future filled with mass shootings, each more deadly than the last. These improvements are also necessary to help reduce the day in, day out gun violence that now claims more than 38,000 lives annually. An assault weapons ban would also enhance the safety of our first responders. New Violence Policy Center research shows that one of four law enforcement officers slain in the line of duty in 2016 was killed with an assault weapon. Our policymakers, including the president, must put words into action now to save lives.”
The Violence Policy Center is a national educational organization working to stop gun death and injury. Follow the VPC on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
