Rep. Gutierrez Meeting With Pastors, Gun-Violence Victims and Families Monday To Plan Responses to Chicago's "Slow-Motion Massacre"

Press Release

Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez (D-IL), who sits on the Judiciary Committee's Crime Subcommittee, will meet with gun-violence victims and their families and with pastors and other leaders on Monday and will hold a media availability immediately afterwards. The goal is to discuss what many are calling the "slow-motion massacre" taking place in Chicago and to solicit input on legislation the Congressman is developing to prevent handgun violence.

The Congressman has a long track-record fighting for gun-control legislation, dating to his first days in Congress. In addition to his very first bill in 1993 ― to ban military-style assault weapons ― the Congressman has also fought for legislation to stem the flow of unsafe handguns that are disproportionately used in the commission of crimes. He is particularly interested in what can be done to stem the epidemic of handgun deaths and injuries in the City of Chicago and is hoping to introduce legislation in the coming weeks. He is seeking community input from leaders in the Fourth District and the rest of the Chicago area.

"I remain concerned about the prevalence of handguns and the senseless deaths that our community suffers week after week. I think it is important that in addition to improvements to background checks and reinstating the assault weapons ban, solutions to the epidemic of handgun violence need to be part of the national discussion."

The Congressman is also eager to see how the President addresses gun violence prevention in his State of the Union Address Tuesday, which is also likely to include more details of the President's approach to immigration reform.

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