Whip Clark: "This Discharge Petition Has the Power To Save Lives"

"Once again, House Democrats are leading the way. Once again, it is our Caucus putting People Over Politics.

Thank you to Congresswoman Diana DeGette for crafting a bill that does exactly what its title says: Keep Americans Safe. This legislation will get tools of war out of our communities, off of our streets -- banning the high-capacity magazines that have been used to wreak so much destruction in our country and steal away so many loved ones.

And as always, I'm grateful for a leader who is driving this fight forward every day, our champion of common sense, the Chair of our Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, Congressman Mike Thompson. Your work -- and the work of the entire Task Force -- has never been more important.

This is the tenth day of the year -- and more than 1,000 Americans have already been killed by guns. Gunfire raining down on a New Year's party just minutes after midnight. Students in Iowa running from a gunman on their first day back from the holidays. That's what America looks like in 2024. That's what life looks like when guns are the leading cause of death for our children.

Gun violence is a public health crisis -- in its scale and in its horror. The staggering death counts. The lives cut short. The parents and loved ones left to suffer. What could possibly be more worthy of our attention? What could possibly be a greater priority?

But we've seen this story before. Democrats push for universal background checks. The GOP blocks it. Democrats propose an assault weapons ban. Republicans block it. Democrats introduce this bill to get high-capacity magazines off our streets. Republican leadership keeps it off the Floor.

So, while they stand by as these murders continue in our communities, House Democrats will take matters into our own hands. This discharge petition has the power to save lives. If there's anyone on the other side of the aisle who is sick of the inaction -- tired of the carnage -- here's your chance to put Kids Over Guns. To put People Over Politics. To do something for the people who elected you.

This isn't politics. It's common sense. And it's what the federal government is here for -- keeping our country safe. It's a new year, so let's get to work and do our jobs."

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