Gun Control
I understand that keeping our neighborhoods safe is important to you, and it's a priority for me as your Representative in Congress. Keeping firearms out of the hands of individuals who shouldn't have them, and making sure our families are safe no matter where they go is one critical step toward achieving that goal.
Ensuring Guns Stay Out of the Wrong Hands
The Gun Trafficking Prevention Act
Together with Representatives Maloney, Rigell, and Meehan, I introduced H.R. 452, The Gun Trafficking Prevention Act, in the 113th Congress. This legislation—the first bipartisan gun violence prevention legislation introduced in the House—would prohibit firearms trafficking, strengthen penalties for straw purchasers, and enhance penalties for kingpins and multiple illegal purchases. H.R. 452 now has more than 100 bipartisan co-sponsors.
While I recognize the rights of law-abiding citizens, I believe it is my obligation to ensure that our nation's communities are safe from the threat of gun violence. For this reason, I will continue to fight for responsible and appropriate gun control legislation, including provisions that limit access to firearms for individuals with criminal backgrounds or mental impairment.
Further, I commend the President and Vice President for taking strong, common-sense steps to curb gun violence in our communities and look forward to working on legislation to strengthen gun control. While I recognize the rights of law-abiding citizens, I believe it is my obligation to ensure that our nation's communities are safe from the threat of gun violence. For this reason, I will continue to fight for responsible and appropriate gun control legislation, including provisions to limit those with criminal backgrounds or mental impairment from obtaining weapons.
More on Gun Control
The congressman who could become President Donald Trump’s recurring political nightmare has photos on his office walls of himself with anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, pathbreaking boxer Muhammad Ali and civil rights activist Coretta Scott King.
Each were fighters of a sort, and Rep. Elijah Cummings says he is, too. The Baltimore Democrat’s battles usually involve pushing back as best he can on Trump administration policies and practices.
Baltimore, MD (February 15, 2018)—Today, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD) released the following statement in response to the shooting at a Florida high school that left 17 dead and 15 injured:
Washington, D.C. (June 29, 2016) – Today, Congressmen Elijah E. Cummings, Chris Van Hollen, Dutch Ruppersberger, and John Sarbanes (all D-MD) marked the National Day of Action for Commonsense Gun Violence Prevention at Cathedral of the Incarnation in Baltimore. The Representatives were joined by Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh, Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis, Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen, survivors of gun violence, families of victims, and faith leaders.
Washington, D.C. (June 22, 2016)—Today, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD) issued the following statement after joining House Democrats to stage a sit-in against congressional inaction on gun violence:
“Every year, tens of thousands of Americans die as a result of gun violence. In some states, firearms take more lives than car accidents.
“The American people are fed up with inaction and so am I. It is time for House Republicans to treat gun violence like the scourge on our country that it is.
Washington, D.C. (January 5, 2016) — Today, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD) issued the following statement lauding President Obama’s announcement of executive actions to expand criminal background checks to prevent gun violence in America:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, D.C. (August 1, 2013) -- Today, U.S. Rep. Elijah E. Cummings and U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (both D-MD) introduced the Witness Security and Protection Grant Program Act of 2013, legislation that directs the Attorney General to make competitive grants to state and local governments to establish and maintain short-term witness protection programs in cases involving homicides, violent felonies, serious drug offenses, gang related crimes, or organized crime.
After my nephew Christopher was shot and murdered in a home invasion, I mourned the loss of his young and precious life and committed myself to doing everything in my power to make sure that these tragedies would be halted.
Yet, I must acknowledge that two years after Christopher’s death, my passion was beginning to weaken. To my dismay, I realized that the horror and loss that my family had experienced was starting to become an intellectualized abstraction.