On National Gun Violence Awareness Day, Congressman Joe Neguse Calls for Action on Gun Violence

Washington D.C.—On National Gun Violence Awareness Day, Congressman Joe Neguse, a member of the House Judiciary Committee calls for Senate action on gun violence, including passage of universal background checks which passed the House last year. 

“Coloradans have experienced the tragedy and grief of gun violence far too many times. Today on National Gun Violence Awareness Day, we remember the lives we have lost and we must recommit to fighting for real tangible action that can save lives in our community,” said Congressman Joe Neguse. “Over a year ago, the House took bipartisan action to pass universal background checks, a measure widely supported by Americans, and yet the Senate has remained frozen in inaction, refusing to take up this law. We cannot sit idly by as the epidemic of gun violence continues to bring pain and tragedy to our communities. We must take meaningful action for the sake of our communities and our children.” 

In February, Congressman Neguse brought Tom Mauser to the State of the Union as his guest to urge the President to act on this issue. Tom lost his son Daniel in the Columbine shooting. Last year, Congress passed H.R. 8 the Bipartisan Universal Background Checks Act. Additionally, the House Judiciary Committee, which Congressman Neguse sits on, approved a high capacity magazine ban, red flag law, and hate crimes bill. In 2019, Congressman Neguse successfully advocated for robust funding for states to improve their criminal and mental health records as part of the National Instant Background Check System (NICS), funding that was included in the FY2020 funding package and he recently advocated for the Department of Justice to run an audit on the Point of Contact background check system, a system that could have enabled Sol Pais to wrongly pass a background check when she arrived in Colorado in April. In June, Congressman Neguse brought Congressman Mike Thompson, Chair of the U.S. House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force to Colorado to highlight Colorado’s legislation in this area and make the case for similar change at the federal level.