At Los Angeles City Hall today, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40) joined fellow members of Congress from Southern California’s congressional delegation, Angelenos affected by gun violence, and community leaders committed to gun safety, including representatives from the LGBTQ and Muslim communities, in calling on Congress to vote on bills to prevent gun violence.  Watch the video of Congresswoman Roybal-Allard’s remarks here, followed by remarks from Adela Barajas of L.A.U.R.A. Life After Uncivil Ruthless Acts.

“Enough is enough.  It is long past time for Congress to make sensible gun control a national priority,” said Congresswoman Roybal-Allard.  “Democrats are ready to vote on bills to strengthen our background check system and keep terrorist suspects from buying guns.  In the name of my constituents, in the name of the countless American families whose lives have been shattered by gun violence, and in the name of all those who fear that a gun in the wrong hands could harm them or their loved ones, I am calling on House Republican leaders to hold a vote on these bipartisan gun bills.”

The event was part of a National Day of Action for Commonsense Gun Violence Prevention.  Gun violence prevention advocates held sit-ins and other events throughout the country to demand that Congress act on commonsense legislation to prevent gun violence.  Congresswoman Roybal-Allard was joined at LA City Hall by Congressman Xavier Becerra (CA-34), Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43), Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-27), Congresswoman Karen Bass (CA-37), Congressman Alan Lowenthal (CA-47), and Los Angeles City Councilmembers Mitch O’Farrell, Paul Krekorian, Marqueece Harris-Dawson, and Curren Price.

Earlier in the day, Congresswoman Roybal-Allard took part in a roundtable with residents affected by gun violence, including representatives from Women Against Gun Violence, Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, The Trevor Project, Equality California, Interfaith Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, Violence Prevention Coalition of Greater Los Angeles, and The Wall Las Memorias Project.

Last week, House Democrats sat-in for 26 hours on the House Floor to demand that House Speaker Paul Ryan and House Republicans allow an immediate vote on bipartisan, commonsense gun safety bills to help keep guns out of dangerous hands: The bipartisan King-Thompson legislation to expand and strengthen our background check system, and the bipartisan “No Fly, No Buy” bill to keep guns out of the hands of suspected terrorists.

“We can’t just have moments of silence when we see American lives perish,” said Congressman Becerra. “It’s time to allow the American people to speak through their Representatives and have a vote in Congress on legislation to prevent gun violence.  I stand here today with my colleagues and Angelenos like Mandy Pifer to say, give us a vote.”

“You will never truly understand the gun violence epidemic until it happens to you,” said Mandy Pifer, fiancé of Shannon Johnson, who was killed in the San Bernardino shooting.  “I strongly believe that to ignore the role that guns play in this public health epidemic – homicides, suicides, and terrorism – is like throwing away the last piece of a puzzle you’ve been working on for a very long time.  It’s frustrating and nonsensical.”

“One week ago, House Democrats held a sit-in on the House floor and declared: Enough is enough!  And we were joined by hundreds of thousands of people around the country who felt the same,” said Congresswoman Chu.  “We have woken the nation’s conscience.  Americans have had enough of mass shootings and of feeling unsafe because Congress refuses to allow a vote on even the most common sense gun restrictions – like keeping guns away from those on the No Fly List, or expanding background checks, a proposal supported by 92% of Americans.  But of course, the problem of gun violence is more than just mass shootings.  It’s a daily plague.  Today, with our National Day of Action, we are speaking out as one to say that it is time for Congress to take action to end the senseless gun violence that is tearing apart our communities.  Too many have died, and too many lives ruined.  Moments of silence are not enough.  It’s time we build and maintain this energy until we finally have action!”

“It is unfortunate that House Republicans have refused to take up the issue of gun violence through legislative action, particularly after it is clear that it’s what the American people want,” said Congresswoman Bass.  “It is critical that we continue the protest efforts started last week by House Democrats in our communities across the country to keep the drumbeat going and that is what we are all hoping to accomplish today.”

“Common-sense gun safety is the only thing that stands between us and the certainty of more death and horror on a mass scale,” said Congressman Lowenthal.  “Until we require that all people with access to guns undergo full background checks, and that those who have been deemed too dangerous to board an air plane not have access to military-grade weapons built for one purpose--to slaughter people on a massive scale, we will continue to lead the world in this tragic and shameful category.”

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