CHICAGO,
IL – U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) hosted the first national
women's forum on gun violence in Chicago today. This is the first
of 16 forums scheduled to be held nationwide by women House members to
develop strategies and build grassroots support to pass federal gun safety
legislation this year.
Last
month, the House failed to follow the Senate lead and pass legislation
to close the gun show sales loophole, require child safety locks, and ban
the importation of high-capacity ammunition clips.
"The
House of Representatives last month put the interests of the gun lobby
ahead of the interests of the millions of families who are demanding that
Congress do the right thing. Families in Chicago, and throughout
the nation are demanding that Congress pass sensible gun safety legislation
this year," Schakowsky said.
"How
many more tragedies must take place, how many more children must lose their
lives, and how many more parents must prepare for another funeral before
Washington says enough is enough?" Schakowsky asked. "That is why
I am proud to join with my women House colleagues in this national grassroots
campaign to convince the Congressional leadership to pass gun safety legislation
this year without delay," she added.
Since
Speaker Dennis Hastert is from Illinois, many speakers participating in
today's forum suggested that this is an opportunity to get his cooperation
in passing sensible gun safety legislation this year.
House
Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt (D-MO), Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Representative
Rod Blogajevich (D-IL), Illinois State House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn-Currie
(D-IL) and other state and local officials attended the event. Law
enforcement officials, gun control advocates, student activists and victims
of gun violence also participated in today's forum.
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