April, 20 2012, 02:30pm EDT
Speaker Boehner Makes Time For Gun Industry, But Not For Victims of Gun Violence
WASHINGTON
Brady Campaign President Dan Gross issued the following statement on the refusal of House Speaker John Boehner to meet with victims of gun violence this week, which was marked by the anniversaries of the Virginia Tech and Columbine shootings:
"On Monday of this week, the fifth anniversary of the mass shooting at Virginia Tech, 32 gun violence victims from across the nation converged on Capitol Hill to call upon Members of Congress to say, once and for all, whether they believe dangerous people should be allowed to have guns. 'The 32' - symbolizing the 32 killed at Virginia Tech and the 32 murdered every day with guns -- sought a meeting with House Speaker John Boehner to ask him this question directly. They were rebuffed, due to the Speaker's 'demanding schedule'.
I have no doubt the Speaker has a demanding schedule. But in February he found time to travel to Florida to meet with gun industry leaders. Yet he couldn't find a few minutes this somber week, which marked the anniversaries of the Virginia Tech and Columbine shootings, to meet with Americans whose lives were changed forever by the insanity of our nation's gun laws. I'm sure Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi also had a demanding schedule, but she met with the victims and heard their concerns.
Under Speaker Boehner, the House has done nothing to make it harder for dangerous people to have guns. Indeed, it has passed legislation that would enable individuals with violent pasts, like George Zimmerman, to carry loaded, concealed handguns across the nation. Too often, gun violence victims get nothing but tears of sympathy from politicians like John Boehner. Tears are not enough. These victims wanted to be heard. John Boehner apparently didn't have time to listen."
Brady United formerly known as The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence and its legislative and grassroots affiliate, the Brady Campaign and its dedicated network of Million Mom March Chapters, is the nation's largest, non-partisan, grassroots organization leading the fight to prevent gun violence. We are devoted to creating an America free from gun violence, where all Americans are safe at home, at school, at work, and in our communities.
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