Rangel: Speaker Ryan Must Allow a Vote on Commonsense Gun Legislation

In the wake of the horrific act of hate and terror in Orlando last week -- the deadliest mass shooting in American history -- Congressman Charles B. Rangel is demanding that Speaker Ryan not recess the House without allowing a vote on gun violence prevention legislation to keep the American people safe.

"Members of Congress cannot go on vacation without voting on commonsense gun violence prevention legislation to save lives. After yet another unspeakable act of violence, the American people are sending a clear message to Speaker Ryan and the Republican House: No Bill, No Break," said Rangel. "Mass shootings have become unacceptably commonplace in our country, and we have an obligation to do more to keep guns out of the wrong hands."

Rangel is calling on Speaker Ryan and House Republicans to allow an immediate vote on bipartisan gun violence prevention legislation to help keep guns out of dangerous hands:

Enact the bipartisan King-Thompson legislation to expand and strengthen our background checks system;
Pass the bipartisan "No Fly, No Buy' bill to keep guns out of the hands of suspected terrorists.

House Republicans have now voted 13 times to block consideration of the bipartisan "No Fly, No Buy' legislation. With House Republicans' continued obstruction, the FBI and the Attorney General are not currently allowed to prevent suspected terrorists from buying lethal firearms and explosives. The "No Fly, No Buy' bill ends this loophole -- giving the Department of Justice the ability to keep deadly weapons out of the hands of would-be terrorists. As Rangel said about the "No Fly, No Buy' bill, "If you're too dangerous to fly, you're too dangerous to buy a gun."

Rangel has repeatedly called for congressional action to prevent gun violence. He introduced H.R.2939, the Enforcing Existing Gun Laws Act, which would give the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) the resources and authority to effectively enforce America's current gun laws by repealing significant limitations that Republicans have placed on the agency. Last year the Congressman introduced a resolution that would designate the month of June as "National Gun Violence Awareness Month" to promote nationwide efforts to prevent further shootings.

"We cannot have another moment of silence without action," concluded Rangel. "As the most powerful legislative body in the nation, it is our responsibility to honor the victims of gun violence and their families with urgent action to end this devastating epidemic."

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