
Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman speaks during a rally at the UFCW Local 1776 KS headquarters in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania on April 16, 2022. (Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Fetterman Calls for Assault Weapons Ban After July 4th Parade Massacre
The Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania's open U.S. Senate seat also demanded the prosecution of "gun dealers whose weapons routinely wind up at crime scenes."
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate John Fetterman on Tuesday voiced support for a federal ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines following multiple shootings over the long holiday weekend, including one that left six dead and dozens wounded in a Chicago suburb.
"Gisele and I are heartbroken for the victims of these shootings and their families," Fetterman said in a statement. "We wish both law enforcement officers who were injured in the Philadelphia shooting a safe and quick recovery."
"Democrats in the Senate need to scrap the filibuster and immediately pass common-sense reform."
"There is a sad irony about our country experiencing multiple mass shootings on a day that is meant to celebrate its greatness and our freedom," said Fetterman, who is taking on millionaire television personality Mehmet Oz in the race for Pennsylvania's open U.S. Senate seat, a critical race for Democrats as they seek to keep and expand their narrow majority in the upper chamber.
"The unfortunate reality is that yesterday's shooting was not an outlier," said the Democratic candidate, who is currently serving as Pennsylvania's lieutenant governor. "Just several weekends ago in Philadelphia, three people were killed and 12 were shot in one of the city's most vibrant areas, which is a stark reminder that no one and nowhere is immune to gun violence. And while these shootings receive national attention, they pale in comparison to the relentless gun violence afflicting people in their neighborhoods every day."
"We cannot and must not become numb to this ever-increasing gun violence," he continued. "Washington needs to act and take on the NRA by shutting down and prosecuting gun dealers whose weapons routinely wind up at crime scenes. Democrats in the Senate need to scrap the filibuster and immediately pass common-sense reform like universal background checks for all gun sales and a ban on military-grade assault weapons and high capacity magazines."
Despite the proposal's overwhelming popularity with the U.S. public, congressional lawmakers excluded an assault-weapons ban from recently approved compromise gun legislation due to GOP opposition.
In contrast to Fetterman's outspoken support for gun control legislation, Oz has campaigned as a fervent opponent of what he's called "liberal gun grabs" and touted his status as "a member of the National Rifle Association."
When he faced criticism from his GOP primary opponents earlier this year over his past statements supporting gun-safety measures, Oz released an ad declaring, "When people say I won't support guns, they're dead wrong."
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate John Fetterman on Tuesday voiced support for a federal ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines following multiple shootings over the long holiday weekend, including one that left six dead and dozens wounded in a Chicago suburb.
"Gisele and I are heartbroken for the victims of these shootings and their families," Fetterman said in a statement. "We wish both law enforcement officers who were injured in the Philadelphia shooting a safe and quick recovery."
"Democrats in the Senate need to scrap the filibuster and immediately pass common-sense reform."
"There is a sad irony about our country experiencing multiple mass shootings on a day that is meant to celebrate its greatness and our freedom," said Fetterman, who is taking on millionaire television personality Mehmet Oz in the race for Pennsylvania's open U.S. Senate seat, a critical race for Democrats as they seek to keep and expand their narrow majority in the upper chamber.
"The unfortunate reality is that yesterday's shooting was not an outlier," said the Democratic candidate, who is currently serving as Pennsylvania's lieutenant governor. "Just several weekends ago in Philadelphia, three people were killed and 12 were shot in one of the city's most vibrant areas, which is a stark reminder that no one and nowhere is immune to gun violence. And while these shootings receive national attention, they pale in comparison to the relentless gun violence afflicting people in their neighborhoods every day."
"We cannot and must not become numb to this ever-increasing gun violence," he continued. "Washington needs to act and take on the NRA by shutting down and prosecuting gun dealers whose weapons routinely wind up at crime scenes. Democrats in the Senate need to scrap the filibuster and immediately pass common-sense reform like universal background checks for all gun sales and a ban on military-grade assault weapons and high capacity magazines."
Despite the proposal's overwhelming popularity with the U.S. public, congressional lawmakers excluded an assault-weapons ban from recently approved compromise gun legislation due to GOP opposition.
In contrast to Fetterman's outspoken support for gun control legislation, Oz has campaigned as a fervent opponent of what he's called "liberal gun grabs" and touted his status as "a member of the National Rifle Association."
When he faced criticism from his GOP primary opponents earlier this year over his past statements supporting gun-safety measures, Oz released an ad declaring, "When people say I won't support guns, they're dead wrong."
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate John Fetterman on Tuesday voiced support for a federal ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines following multiple shootings over the long holiday weekend, including one that left six dead and dozens wounded in a Chicago suburb.
"Gisele and I are heartbroken for the victims of these shootings and their families," Fetterman said in a statement. "We wish both law enforcement officers who were injured in the Philadelphia shooting a safe and quick recovery."
"Democrats in the Senate need to scrap the filibuster and immediately pass common-sense reform."
"There is a sad irony about our country experiencing multiple mass shootings on a day that is meant to celebrate its greatness and our freedom," said Fetterman, who is taking on millionaire television personality Mehmet Oz in the race for Pennsylvania's open U.S. Senate seat, a critical race for Democrats as they seek to keep and expand their narrow majority in the upper chamber.
"The unfortunate reality is that yesterday's shooting was not an outlier," said the Democratic candidate, who is currently serving as Pennsylvania's lieutenant governor. "Just several weekends ago in Philadelphia, three people were killed and 12 were shot in one of the city's most vibrant areas, which is a stark reminder that no one and nowhere is immune to gun violence. And while these shootings receive national attention, they pale in comparison to the relentless gun violence afflicting people in their neighborhoods every day."
"We cannot and must not become numb to this ever-increasing gun violence," he continued. "Washington needs to act and take on the NRA by shutting down and prosecuting gun dealers whose weapons routinely wind up at crime scenes. Democrats in the Senate need to scrap the filibuster and immediately pass common-sense reform like universal background checks for all gun sales and a ban on military-grade assault weapons and high capacity magazines."
Despite the proposal's overwhelming popularity with the U.S. public, congressional lawmakers excluded an assault-weapons ban from recently approved compromise gun legislation due to GOP opposition.
In contrast to Fetterman's outspoken support for gun control legislation, Oz has campaigned as a fervent opponent of what he's called "liberal gun grabs" and touted his status as "a member of the National Rifle Association."
When he faced criticism from his GOP primary opponents earlier this year over his past statements supporting gun-safety measures, Oz released an ad declaring, "When people say I won't support guns, they're dead wrong."

