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Quigley Marks National Day of Action for Commonsense Gun Violence Prevention

June 29, 2016

CHICAGO – Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the Gun Violence Prevention Taskforce, joined Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (MD-05), Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02), Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Rep. Bill Foster (IL-11), Rep. Danny Davis (IL-07) and gun violence prevention advocates at Federal Plaza in Chicago to demand Congress act on commonsense gun violence legislation.

“Another moment of silence followed by inaction from Congress will no longer suffice. Our nation is facing an undeniable epidemic of gun violence that’s affecting all corners of the country. More than 45 people were wounded in shootings across Chicago just this past weekend alone,” said Rep. Quigley. “The sit-in on the House floor last week was a historic moment of solidarity that energized Americans asking for real action from Congress. I stand more determined than ever to fight for commonsense gun control legislation to confront the daily tragedy of gun violence in America.”

“Just one week after the historic sit-in on the House floor, tomorrow leaders in Congress will hold yet another historic event to urge our elected officials in the U.S. House of Representatives to hold a vote on bipartisan legislation that protects the rights of law-abiding Americans, keeps guns out of the wrong hands, and saves lives,” saidformer Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, Co-Founder of the gun violence prevention organization Americans for Responsible Solutions. “I want to thank Congressman Davis, Congressman Foster, Congresswoman Kelly, Congressman Quigley, and Congresswoman Schakowsky for helping lead the fight against our nation’s gun violence crisis. Speaking is difficult for me. But I haven't been silenced. And neither should the American people. Their Representatives must vote to make our communities safer.”

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Day of Action Rally

Rep. Quigley (at podium) stands with Congressional colleagues to demand action on gun violence on the National Day of Action for Commonsense Gun Violence Prevention.

The National Day of Action for Commonsense Gun Violence Prevention comes after House Democrats sat-in for 26 hours on the House Floor last week to demand that Speaker Ryan and House Republicans allow an immediate vote on bipartisan, commonsense gun violence prevention legislation to help keep guns out of dangerous hands, with two bills:

  • The bipartisan King-Thompson legislation to expand and strengthen our background check system;
  • The bipartisan ‘No Fly, No Buy’ bill to keep guns out of the hands of suspected terrorists.

As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Quigley has called on Congress to stand up to the gun lobby in America. Most recently, he co-authored a bipartisan background check bill that expands the existing background check system to cover all commercial firearm sales. He also introduced the Good Neighbor Gun Act, which would require the Department of Justice (DOJ) to establish a voluntary code of conduct for licensed gun dealers and create a national “Good Neighbor” certification for gun dealers who abide by a certain set of requirements. His signature legislation, the TRACE Act, cracks down on the illegal gun market by improving gun tracking data and provides law enforcement the tools it needs to enforce current gun laws. Rep. Quigley believes Chicago’s gun violence epidemic demands a federal response. He has led bills to increase funding to public safety and combat gun violence in the Chicago area, and is an original sponsor of the Buyback our Safety Act to bolster gun buyback initiatives.