DPCC Co-Chair Lieu: Senate Must Pass Gun Legislation
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Ted Lieu, Co-Chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, appeared on Hardball with Chris Matthews to discuss gun safety and Leader McConnell's legislative obstruction. He emphasized the bipartisan support that House Democratic bills on gun safety have across the country, and the urgent need for Congress to act as a matter of public safety and public health. Rep. Lieu made clear that it was Democrats who are fighting For the People to ensure they feel safe in their neighborhoods, schools, and places of worship. Below are excerpts from the interview. Click here to watch the video.
"…the House passed on a bipartisan basis universal background checks legislation that has 97 percent support among the American people. It is before the U.S. Senate. All Mitch McConnell has to do is put it up for a vote, and it will get to the President's desk."
"I believe [the President] is being a chicken and being beholden to the NRA. There's no reason to not have this bill become law. It's been shown to be effective in preventing felons and other people who committed violent crimes from getting these guns. And we know that in the last mass shooting, it would have prevented that person from getting a gun."
"And the statistics are sobering. We know from the Centers for Disease Control that over 39,000 people die annually from gun violence. That`s over four people per hour. So by the time your show is over, Chris, another four people would have died of gun violence in America. "