Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee Welcomes National Rifle Association to Houston and Challenges NRA Leader to Debate Proposals to Prevent Gun Violence

Statement

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a Senior Member of the House Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees, released the following statement welcoming the National Rifle Association's (NRA) 142nd Annual Meeting to Houston and inviting NRA Executive Vice-President and CEO, Wayne LaPierre, to meet with her and community leaders and members of the clergy to debate proposals for preventing or reducing gun violence:

"I am pleased to welcome the delegates to the National Rifle Association's (NRA) 142nd Annual Meeting to be held in Houston, Texas. As one of the Members of Congress from Houston, a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, and the author of H.R. 65, "Child Gun Safety and Gun Access Prevention Act, I have invited Wayne LaPierre, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Rifle Association, to meet with me and community leaders and members of the clergy to debate proposals for preventing or reducing the epidemic of gun violence plaguing our nation. (Letter attached)

"Everyone agrees our schools, movie theaters shopping malls, streets and communities need to be safer. But we need a comprehensive approach that goes beyond just arming more people with more guns to make this happen. While the NRA is here in Houston the real focus should be a combination of combating mental health and not allowing guns that are used in war to be used against our children. Closing holes in our mental health system, addressing our culture's glorification of violence, improving background checks for everyone who buys firearms, and reinstating the ban on assault weapons and assault magazines all must be part of a comprehensive approach to reduce and prevent gun violence.

"The problem of gun violence has reached epidemic proportions. Since the Newtown massacre, guns have been responsible for approximately 3,293 deaths in the United States and 254 in the state of Texas. This month alone 57 persons have been killed by guns in the city of Houston. In addition, according to the Violence Policy Center, firearms are the second leading cause of traumatic death related to a consumer product in the United States and are the second most frequent cause of death overall for Americans ages 15 to 24. Since 1960, more than 1.3 million Americans have died at the hands of firearm in suicides, homicides, and unintentional injuries.

"I think both I and the NRA share the goal of reducing gun violence and we each have put forward bold yet dramatically different solutions. My legislation, H.R. 65, the "Child Gun Safety and Gun Access Prevention Act," is a common sense proposal that focuses on protecting our nation's children from gun violence and accidents. H.R. 65 would raise the handgun eligibility age from 18 to 21; and will prohibit persons under the age of 21 from possessing semiautomatic assault weapons or large capacity magazines. In contrast, the NRA advocates for more guns in schools, looser restrictions on gun owners, and the ability of private citizens to carry concealed weapons in public streets and buildings.

"The NRA has been an influential voice on this and other issues relating to gun control and safety since its founding and I am certain the citizens of Houston would benefit from the participation of Mr. LaPierre in a meeting in which we all have the opportunity to discuss the NRA's proposal to prevent or reduce gun violence and to respond to questions from interested community leaders."

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