Perlmutter Statement About Senate Committee Passing Assault Weapons Ban

Press Release

Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) congratulates Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) on passing the Assault Weapons Ban of 2013 through the Senate Judiciary Committee. Perlmutter is the House co-sponsor of the companion measure restricting the sale of military-style assault weapons.

"We can't wait another day, week or month. Americans want Congress to take real action to make gun violence less easy, less frequent, and less deadly. Today the Senate Judiciary Committee took a first step. As the President said in his State of the Union Address - 'Each of these proposals deserves a vote in Congress...the families of Newtown...of Aurora...and the countless other communities ripped open by gun violence -- they deserve a simple vote....' I agree and urge House Republican leadership to allow a vote on this and other common sense measures to keep weapons of war out of our schools and off our streets. There is nothing to fear in these measures, and they will keep our kids and communities safer without infringing upon the rights of lawful and responsible gun owners," said Perlmutter.

As vice-chair of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, Perlmutter will participate Friday in a hearing about consequences and loopholes in the current background check system and how it can be strengthened. Perlmutter will introduce Colorado resident Jesse Ogas as a witness testifying at the hearing. Mr. Ogas is the director of Community Relations for Denver Public Schools and is a Colorado hunter, sportsman, gun owner and former NRA member. He will testify about options available to lawmakers to help keep our schools, streets and communities safe from gun violence, while also respecting Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans.

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