Newtown Action Alliance Statement on the Deadly Mass Shooting Incident in Odessa, Texas

For Immediate Release

September 1, 2019

Contact:

John Kelley

917-679-6475

jkelley@newtownaction.org

Newtown Action Alliance Statement on the Deadly Mass Shooting Incident in Odessa, Texas,

Urges State and Federal Elected Leaders in America to Pass Comprehensive Gun Control Policies

Newtown, CT-The following statement was released by Po Murray, Chairwoman of Newtown Action Alliance, after the deadly mass shooting incident in Odessa, Texas on August 31, 2019.

“Another community has been devastated by a gunman who used an AR-style weapon to kill seven people and injure at least 22, including a 17-month-old toddler and two law enforcement officers. It is the latest of multiple devastating mass shooting incidents during the month of August.

“We send our hearts and prayers to the victims, their families, and the first responders from the Odessa community. We also demand that lawmakers from Texas and the federal government step up to pass a set of comprehensive gun control policies to prevent these tragedies. March for Our Lives introduced its Peace Plan (https://marchforourlives.com/peace-plan/) and GVPedia has introduced the Denver Accord (https://denveraccord.org/recommended-legislation-and-policies/). We encourage all state and federal lawmakers to embrace and pass these policy prescriptions that will dramatically reduce gun deaths in America.

“Lawmakers from Texas must do more to keep its citizens safe from gun violence. According to the Giffords Gun Law Scorecard, Texas is ranked 34thfor gun law strength and 27thfor gun death rank. In 2017, 3,513 Texans were taken by gun violence.

“In Connecticut, Governor Dannel Malloy and the General Assembly passed a comprehensive set of bipartisan gun control laws in 2013, after 20 children and six educators were killed by a gunman with an AR-15 and high capacity magazines at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Now, Connecticut is ranked 3rd for gun law strength and 46th for gun death rank. The evidence is crystal clear. There are fewer gun deaths in states with strong gun laws and fewer guns.

“Rather than passing gun control laws to end gun violence after Sutherland Springs, Santa Fe, and El Paso shootings, Republican Governor Greg Abbott and the Republican majority in the Texas State Legislature have worked recklessly to loosen gun laws. Today, eight new gun laws expanding gun rights in schools, churches, rental property and disaster zones went into effect. It’s time for Texan voters to change those lawmakers who are unwilling to pass gun control laws to keep Texas safe.

“Voters all across America must also change the President and the Members of Congress who fail to take action. The House of Representatives passed expanded background check bills in February, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has been blocking a vote on this low-hanging fruit legislation in the Senate. After suggesting he would support the background check bill after Parkland and El Paso/Dayton shootings, President Donald Trump has flip flopped after speaking to the NRA.

“We need more Americans to join our fight to end gun violence. We invite all concerned citizens to join us, Father Mike Pfleger, Chicago families and other gun violence prevention activists at the National Rally to #EndGunViolence on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on September 25, 2019, to pressure Congress and the President to take action. Many gun control bills are ready for a vote, including HR 1296, the bipartisan assault weapons ban bill with 208 cosponsors.

“A wide array of national polls show that the majority of Americans support various gun control measures. It’s time for Congress and the President to act.”

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Newtown Action Alliance (http://alliance.newtownaction.org/) is a Newtown-based, national grassroots organization formed after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings. Our mission is to achieve the steady and continuous reduction of gun violence through legislative and cultural changes.