Gun Violence Prevention
"Gun violence is a public health epidemic. Workers should not fear for their lives at work, and every person deserves to go into a house of worship without fearing violence, and our kids should be able to feel safe at school. Addressing gun violence with meaningful action is a moral obligation that is long overdue."
Congresswoman Underwood believes that gun violence prevention is a public health issue, and that Congress must respond accordingly with data-driven, evidence-based policies. Less than two months after Congresswoman Underwood took office, five people were killed and six were wounded by a mass shooter in the 14th District. That tragedy in a workplace in Aurora took place just one day after the eleven-year anniversary of another mass shooting at Northern Illinois University.
Congresswoman Underwood vowed to never forget the law enforcement and first responders who rushed toward the violence, undoubtedly saving countless lives, and honors the victims with action. Eleven days after the shooting, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 (H.R. 8), legislation co-sponsored by Congresswoman Underwood that requires a background check on every gun sale or transfer, including unlicensed gun dealers, with limited exceptions for family gifts, hunting and target shooting, and self-defense.
Congresswoman Underwood supports universal background checks for all gun sales to ensure that criminals don't have access to dangerous weapons. She supports efforts to limit access to guns for domestic abusers, stalkers, and others with existing legal actions regarding threats of violence, and because over half of gun deaths are suicides, she is fighting for policies that improve access to suicide prevention services and mental health care. She is also working to remove roadblocks to federal funding of research into how to best prevent gun violence.
Congresswoman Underwood is a member of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force.
More on Gun Violence Prevention
WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) voted to pass the Protecting Our Kids Act, a comprehensive package of gun violence prevention bills that offer commonsense solutions to help prevent future mass shootings and gun deaths. The legislation comes in the wake of the over 200 mass shootings that have occurred in 2022, including recent shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde. Gun violence is a public health crisis; guns are now the leading cause of death among children and adolescents.
Ensures nurses, doctors, and mental health professionals have the training and resources they need to identify and support young people at risk for suicide to save lives and prevent tragedies
WASHINGTON—Today, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) supported the passage of bipartisan legislation in the House to prevent gun violence and improve gun safety. The Bipartisan Background Checks Act and the Enhanced Background Checks Act are common sense solutions supported by approximately 90 percent of Americans to address our nation's gun violence epidemic.
WASHINGTON—This week, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) supported the historic passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act (H.R. 1280). This transformative legislation would make communities safer by increasing transparency and accountability in policing across the country. The bill includes reforms to require the use of body cameras, create a national registry of police misconduct, and require officers to intervene when excessive force is being used. Underwood is an original cosponsor of the legislation.
WASHINGTON—Today, Representative Lauren Underwood (IL-14) supported the bipartisan passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act (H.R. 7120) in the House of Representatives. The legislation would create stronger systems of transparency and accountability in policing across the country and safeguard every American's right to safety and justice. The bill would ban chokeholds on the federal level, end racial profiling, and help build trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.