GUN VIOLENCE IN AMERICA WILL NOT CEASE UNLESS WE HAVE A CIVIL DISCUSSION THAT DOES NOT DISTORT THE INTENT OF THE 2ND AMENDMEN

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a member of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force and a Senior Member of the House Judiciary Committee, released the following statement in response to protesters at her office in the Heights:

“As the Congresswoman who represents the 18^th Congressional District, I am pleased to have four satellite offices which allow the people to petition their government. Today, persons appeared at my Heights office to protest, and I respect those citizens’ rights to protest their government. If that protest is to talk about opposing sensible gun legislation, then I will respectfully disagree with their position. Since Sandy Hook, where 20 innocent children and 6 innocent adults were massacred in a school that was meant for learning, more than 5000 people have died due to reckless gun violence. This speaks volumes for why we need sensible gun violence prevention legislation.

“There is nothing wrong with having universal background checks, closing the gun show loop hole, legislation mandating that adults properly store their guns away so children will not have access to them, a reasonable ban on assault weapons and enhanced treatment and resources for the mentally ill. Having those mechanisms in place will reduce the gun violence we see here in America. Certainly, a dialogue is warranted on the 2nd Amendment but to do nothing on having safer gun laws is not an option. I look forward to working with all of those who care about this issue in order for us to come up with some form of sensible gun law legislation.

“One thing should be clear, we should not fear each other’s position and I will not fear doing the right thing, which is passing sensible gun laws that will not hinder the Constitutional Rights of the American people and my constituents.”

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