"It is just beyond my comprehension that we are seeing these mass murders happen again and again and again. And as I have said, we have got to get the political will to do everything we can to keep people safe." –Hillary Clinton
Gun violence in America infects communities everywhere and has taken a massive toll on our country. On average, 82 Americans lose their lives at the hands of a gun every day, and 7 of those Americans are children. Shootings in schools, churches, and on street corners have no place in a civilized society, and Hillary will take decisive action to strengthen our gun laws and keep weapons out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill. While the Republicans are standing up for the NRA and gun lobby, Hillary will stand up for the safety and security of American families and work tirelessly to combat gun violence in our communities.
Hillary has a history of working toward sensible gun control legislation aimed at ensuring guns do not fall into the hands of people that will perpetrate violence. As First Lady, she supported her husband’s signing of the Brady Bill, which mandates federal background checks for gun sales. She also supported the passage of the federal assault weapons ban that was in effect for 10 years. Also as First Lady, Hillary convened the White House Summit on School Violence after the Columbine massacre, which brought stakeholders on both sides to the table to come up with solutions to keep kids safe. As Senator, she supported a number of bills that would close loopholes in existing regulations, such as preventing unauthorized gun sales via the Internet.
Hillary has already released a comprehensive plan to combat gun violence in America once she is President. The core of her plan involves closing loopholes in existing laws and cracking down on gun dealers who aren’t following the law. Thirty eight percent of federally licensed dealers refused to comply with existing gun laws in 2011, but only 71 licenses were revoked by the ATF. Hillary will be aggressive in holding these gun dealers accountable. She will also expand background checks on gun purchases, a policy that many Republicans oppose, yet more than 9 in 10 Americans favor.
Hillary recognizes that addressing our broken mental health system must be part of the solution to reining in gun violence, and her plan incorporates improving mental health facilities and treatment as well as strengthening regulations that prevent people with certain mental illnesses from purchasing guns.
The horrors of gun violence in America beg for commonsense solutions that will keep our communities and children safe. For far too long, political leaders have wavered on this issue, failing to exert strong leadership or prioritize combatting gun violence in America. Hillary believes we should do more than just shake our heads; as a country it is our responsibility to act and stand up for the safety of American families. As she puts it: “This is not just tragic. We don’t just need to pray for people. We need to act and we need to build a movement.” Hillary is ready and willing to combat gun violence in America and stand up to the National Rifle Association lobbyists and their Republican allies who have rejected even the most benign measures to fight gun violence. She will ensure that our laws and policies put the safety and security of American families first.
This blog is part of a series based on the book, 52 Reasons To Vote For Hillary. In an effort to provide the facts about Hillary Clinton, her record, and her plans for America, the authors of the book have decided to publish one reason through Election Day. To find out more about the book, visit the website or buy your copy here.