Rep. Sykes: Congress Must Act to Protect Our Communities from Gun Violence
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, U.S. Representative Emilia Strong Sykes (OH-13) attended a press conference with House Democrats to renew their calls for action on gun violence after three children and three educators were killed by a shooter armed with assault weapons in Nashville on March 27. This was the 130th mass shooting in the United States this year.
“My heart breaks for the families of the children and educators senselessly killed in Nashville this week,” said Rep. Sykes. “As public servants, we have a duty to keep our communities safe, but Congress’ inaction on gun violence is killing innocent Americans every day. Enough is enough. We can and must pass commonsense gun safety legislation to bolster background checks, implement ‘red flag’ laws to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals, and ban assault weapons. I am committed to putting American lives over politics, and I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle are ready to do the same.”
Reps. Sykes is a co-sponsor of H.R. 698, which would prohibit the sale, transfer, manufacture, and importation of semiautomatic weapons and ammunition-feeding devices capable of accepting more than ten rounds while protecting hunting and sporting rifles and assault weapons used by members of the military and law enforcement. This legislation also prohibits duplicates with semiautomatic capabilities, and the importation of assault weapons and large-capacity magazines.