Post by bot on Jul 3, 2016 17:39:47 GMT -5
Hoyer Remarks at National Day of Action for Commonsense Gun Violence Prevention
Rally in Chicago
WASHINGTON, DC – House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) joined Reps. Robin Kelly (IL-02), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Danny Davis (IL-07), Bill Foster (IL-11), and Mike Quigley (IL-05) today at a rally in Chicago as part of the National Day of Action for Commonsense Gun Violence Prevention. Last week, House Democrats held a 26 hour sit-in on the House Floor to demand Republican leaders hold a vote on commonsense legislation to address gun violence. After Republicans left town without holding a vote, Democrats pledged to hold a National Day of Action with advocacy groups, families of gun violence victims, and gun violence survivors to continue to call for a vote. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:
“Good morning Chicago!
“I’m here today to stand with you and with Rep. Schakowsky, Rep. Kelly, and all of the other Democratic Members of Congress and candidates to demand an end to the killing that has plagued the streets of this city and communities across our country.
“Republicans in Congress, beholden to the NRA, have refused to allow a vote even on the most bipartisan, most widely supported idea out there: that we should be able to prevent those on the terror watch list from buying guns.
“If we don’t trust you to get on a plane, we shouldn’t trust you with a military-style assault rifle.
“Or, to put it even more simply: ‘no fly, no buy.’
“So when, even after the Orlando massacre and the daily gun violence on the streets of this city, House Republicans continued to refuse a vote, Democrats decided it was time to take dramatic measures.
“Led by civil rights hero Rep. John Lewis, we held a historic sit-in on the Floor of the House to draw attention to the crisis of gun violence.
“To demand that Congress take action.
“To demand a vote.
“America is demanding action.
“Not just another moment of silence or statements about how their ‘thoughts and prayers’ are with victims and their families.
“Thoughts and prayers aren’t enough.
“We need commonsense reforms.
“No fly, no buy. That’s commonsense, and 90% of America believes it’s common sense.
“And all we were doing last Wednesday, and what we will do every Wednesday until it happens, is to ask in a democracy to put a bill on the Floor and let us vote.”