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Norton to Join Mayor Bowser at MPD Headquarters to Call on Congress to Stop Going After D.C.’s Gun Safety Laws and Instead Pass Common-Sense Reforms, Today

June 23, 2016

WASHINGTON, D.C.—After sitting-in yesterday on the House floor to call for a vote on common-sense legislation to address gun violence, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will join District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser at a press conference today to send a message to Congress to stop continuous, undemocratic attempts to eliminate D.C.’s gun safety laws and instead vote on common-sense gun legislation. The press conference will take place today, Thursday, at 10:45 a.m., at Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Headquarters (300 Indiana Avenue, NW, Third Floor Lineup Room). Norton successfully kept three Republican amendments targeting several D.C. gun safety laws from being considered when the fiscal year 2017 D.C. appropriations bill goes to the House floor. However, Norton said Democrats show no sign of giving up their sit-in until they get a vote to keep people on the No Fly List from buying guns. Norton and Bowser will be joined by MPD Chief Cathy Lanier.

“I appreciate Mayor Bowser’s leadership and Chief Lanier’s extensive efforts to bring down gun violence in our city,” Norton said. “I am joining them today because Republicans in Congress time and time again have come after D.C.’s gun safety laws, and even tried again just a week after the mass shooting in Orlando,” Norton said. “On Tuesday, I was able to turn back three attempts by Republicans to overturn D.C.’s gun laws. Astonishingly, one amendment would have permitted people to carry handguns, shotguns, and rifles, openly or concealed, in the nation’s capital without any carry license. Another would have eliminated D.C.’s ‘good reason’ requirement to carry a gun. A third would have eliminated enhanced penalties for carrying guns near schools, playgrounds, and other places children congregate. At a time of a spike in gun violence here and across the country, we turned back Republicans, who shamelessly tried to endanger our residents and the many high-ranking officials and global figures who frequent our streets. Coming together this morning, Mayor Bowser, Chief Lanier and I are sending an unmistakable message that this city is ready to fight back.”