Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick Vows to Keep Working to Prevent Gun Violence

20^th Congressional District of Florida – Today, Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick reaffirmed her commitment to put People Over Politics and continue to work to end gun violence.

“Gun violence is a tragedy that strikes every community and weighs on the heart every American. We cannot stand by and watch more innocent Americans lose their lives,” said Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick.“I am proud to work for Safer Communities, putting People Over Politics with commonsense reforms to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people .”

On average, 2,849 Floridians die from gun violence and 5,267 are injured by guns each year.

Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick emphasized hersupport for commonsense gun violence prevention laws, including legislation to require background checks for all gun sales, close loopholes that let dangerous people get guns, ban assault weapons, and keep our children safe that Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick has voted to pass in Congress, including:

• The Bipartisan Background Checks Act: Establishes new background check requirements for firearm transfers between private parties, closing loopholes that allow criminals and abusers buy weapons unchecked. Nearly every House Republican voted against this commonsense, bipartisan measure to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals.
• Enhanced Background Checks Act: Closes the Charleston loophole, which allows dealers to transfer a firearm to a buyer after 3 business days if the FBI background check has not been completed. Nearly every House Republican voted against closing a loophole that allows guns to get into the hands of people who are legally barred from owning guns.

• The Protecting Our Kids Act: Raises the purchasing age for semi-automatic weapons from 18 to 21 years old, outlaws high-capacity magazines, requires the safe storage of firearms, and bans bump stocks and untraceable and deadly ghost guns. Nearly every House Republican voted against making our communities safer for our kids.

• The Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act: Keeps guns out of the hands of people who pose a threat to themselves or others through a federal red-flag program. Nearly every House Republican voted against this life-saving legislation that protects victims of domestic abuse.

• The Assault Weapons Ban of 2022: Bans military-style weapons, such as AR-15s, and high-capacity ammunition magazines that have been used in many mass shootings. Nearly every House Republican voted to keep these weapons of war on the streets.

Extreme MAGA Republicans continue to oppose life-saving gun violence prevention legislation at every turn, siding with the gun lobby – not the vast majority of Americans who support laws, like universal background checks, that would help prevent these recurring tragedies.