Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee Attends Press Conference to Announce Legislation to Fix Gun Checks

Statement

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, ranking member of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation Security and senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, along with Mayor Michael Bloomberg will attend a press conference to announce new legislation to fix gun checks. The Congresswoman released the following statement regarding the press conference and the new legislation:

"I salute the Mayors Against Illegal Guns for hosting this press conference and for their advocacy on this issue. In light of the horrible tragedies that occurred in Tucson, at Virginia Tech, and other places, our country needs to re-examine the policies that allow those clearly unsuited to purchase firearms to be able do so. Gun violence is a horrible problem that plagues our Nation, and is one that we can overcome. However, we must not allow discussions about gun safety to be entrenched in exaggeration. I am a firm believer in the Second Amendment and advocating for common sense safe gun control laws does not come at the expense of this Constitutional right."

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee has been a champion of gun safety legislation while also being a firm supporter of the Second Amendment. This new legislation will stiffen penalties for states that fail to report drug abusers, domestic violence offenders, and mentally ill individuals to the national do-not-sell list. This legislation will also require that all gun sales, including those by private sellers, be subject to a background check. Additionally, Congresswoman Jackson Lee has already introduced the Gun Safety and Gun Access Prevention Act of 2011.

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