Powerful special interests are standing in the way of proven policies to reduce gun violence in our country. But that has not stopped Chris before. Chris is committed to keeping up the fight to enact common sense measures to end the epidemic of gun violence until we prevail.
The level of gun violence in our neighborhoods and communities is a national disgrace. The NRA and other powerful gun lobbies have blocked common sense public safety laws that are proven to reduce gun violence and save lives -- without interfering with hunters or legal gun ownership. Chris is working with grassroots organizations to build a national movement to overcome that resistance and beat the gun lobby.
As a member of the Congressional Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, Chris is a leader in the fight for common sense measures to protect our communities. He has authored legislation to help states implement handgun purchaser licensing laws -- measures that have sharply cut gun violence and suicides.
Chris understands that we need a comprehensive approach at every level of government if we are going to put a stop to the more than 33,000 gun related deaths that occur in our country every year. Measures such as universal background checks and reinstating federal bans on high-capacity magazines and assault weapons would go far to prevent easy criminal access to dangerous firearms. Stricter domestic violence laws are also critical to preventing tragic loss of life.
Fighting the NRA is nothing new to Chris. As a State Senator he worked with a Maryland mom, Carole Price, who had lost her son, John, to a tragic accidental shooting as he played at a friend's house. Together they took on the NRA and passed the Maryland safety trigger lock law -- the first built-in trigger lock law in our country -- in 2000. Chris was praised by Marylanders Against Handgun Abuse, the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, the Million Mom March, and others for his leadership in this fight.
A comprehensive response to gun violence also requires increased supports for mental health. Chris has been a long-time advocate for mental health care, and was a leading supporter of the mental health parity law to require insurers to provide equal coverage for mental illness and substance abuse. We must continue to improve access to care while strengthening the background check system with increased reporting of mental health data.