Orlando Congressman Maxwell Frost and Congresswoman Lucy McBath, both Democrats, sent a letter to U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, asking for an immediate vote on H.R. 698, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2023 and H.R. 8600, the Gas-Operated Semi-Automatic Firearms Exclusion (GOSAFE) Act.
The Assault Weapons Ban Act would reinstate the prohibition on assault weapons, a measure that Democrats say is proven to save lives. The GOSAFE Act would prohibit gas-operated firearms. The members of Congress said both are a common weapon of choice for mass shooters.
In the congressional letter, the Democratic Representatives from Florida and Georgia cite that evidence shows that during the period when the federal assault weapons ban was in place, mass shootings decreased significantly. Since its expiration, the data shows an almost immediate rise in mass shooting deaths in the years after the assault weapons ban expired in 2004.
“We believe the disgraceful act of political violence that occurred at a recent Donald Trump campaign rally has no place in this country and should be unanimously and forcefully condemned. Political violence like the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump with an AR-15 assault rifle will continue unless we curb the means of political violence. The House of Representatives must take decisive and resolute action to bring H.R. 698, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2023 and H.R. 8600, the Gas-Operated Semi-Automatic Firearms Exclusion (GOSAFE) Act to a vote.” wrote Reps. Frost and McBath.
In the letter, they continue to say, “The legacy of this Congress must be one of action and compassion, not one of continued inaction and preventable tragedy. Safety considerations should not be hindered by political ideology. We care for every American’s safety, and we need to take action now.”
“Every day that we delay, more lives are put at risk. The trauma inflicted by mass shootings reverberates through families and communities, leaving scars that last a lifetime,” the Democratic letter concludes. “We owe it to the victims, the survivors, and the future generations to enact sensible gun legislation that will help end this cycle of violence.”
The full text of the letter from the Democrats to the Republican House Speaker is here:
McBathFrost_assaultweaponsbanletter
