SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) will join Moms Demand Action, Protect Minnesota, Governor Tim Walz, local elected officials, faith leaders, survivors of gun violence, and concerned Minnesotans on the steps of the Minnesota State Capitol for a rally against gun violence and hate. Phillips has long been committed to preventing gun violence and issued the following statement after domestic terrorist attacks in El Paso, TX and Dayton, OH killed 29 and wounded dozens more in less than 24 hours this weekend:
“We spend billions of dollars and countless hours to keep our nation safe from foreign attacks, and it is baffling that we can’t do the same to save lives from domestic terrorism and gun violence. Our nation is crying out for reform – for universal background checks, for an assault weapons ban, and for closing dangerous loopholes that make it too easy to purchase firearms. The longer we wait, the more likely it is that you, me, or more of our loved ones are victims of the next shooting. We need to stop this madness. I resolve to work with sensible members of Congress to identify solutions to this epidemic.”
In February, the United States House of Representatives passed the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, co-sponsored by Rep. Phillips, which would require universal background checks on all gun sales, but Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has refused bring it up for a vote in the Senate. The House also allotted $50 million dollars for the Center For Disease Control to study gun violence – the first such funding in 20 years – which has again been delayed by McConnell.
Phillips sits on the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force in Congress. Today, Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Chairman Mike Thompson sent a letter, signed by Phillips and 230 Democratic Members, to Mitch McConnell urging him to hold a vote on bipartisan gun violence prevention legislation immediately (attached).
WHAT:
Honor Them With Action: Rally Against Gun Violence and Hate
SPEAKING PROGRAM:
- Rev. Nancy Nord Bence, Executive Director, Protect Minnesota
- Rev. Rolf Olson, ELCA Pastor, Gun Violence Survivor and Chair of Protect Minnesota’s Interfaith Alliance for Gun Safety
- Molly Leutz, Upcoming MN Moms Demand Action Statewide Co-Lead
- Governor Tim Walz
- U.S. Representative Dean Phillips (MN-03)
- Imam Asad Zaman, Muslim American Society of Minnesota
- Rep. Ryan Winkler, MN House Majority Leader
- Senator Ron Latz, MN Senate
- Rep. Dave Pinto, MN House
- Sami Rahamim, Gun Violence Survivor, Jewish Community Relations Council
- John Choi, Ramsey County District Attorney
- Brittany Meza and Azu Esparza, Ramsey High School students and Gun Violence Prevention Activists
- Emilia Gonzalez Avalos, Navigate/Unidos MN
- Ayolanda Evans, Director of Partnerships for Safe Communities, Protect Minnesota
WHEN:
TODAY, Wednesday, August 7, 2019
7:00 PM
WHERE:
Minnesota State Capitol South Steps, 75 Rev Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55155