LAX Leader

LOS ANGELES, CA – Last week, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) hosted a gun violence prevention roundtable with local safety and gun violence prevention leaders at the Children's Institute Inc. This discussion focused on efforts to curb gun violence in Los Angeles and is part of House Democrats’ nation-wide Gun Violence Day of Action, a day to call attention to the alarming rate of gun violence in America.

“I thank the safety and gun violence prevention advocates for participating in our important roundtable during National Gun Violence Awareness Month,” said Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove. “Many of these individuals understand first-hand the impacts of gun violence in our communities, by either being survivors or preventionists, and their insights were powerful. Gun violence is a terrifying regularity that has ripped apart families and communities, including those here in Los Angeles. Republicans must have the courage to act on gun reform to save lives. We need legislation that addresses unfettered access to guns across our nation – and the systemic inequities that lead to gun violence. We must also continue to have conversations like this that shed a light on the root causes of gun violence in our communities,” continued Kamlager-Dove. “I hope to do this convening again in the future, and I thank those who were involved today for expressing their stories.

“Democrats will always be loud about preventing gun violence while Republican silence on this issue is tantamount to dismissing the deaths of thousands. It cannot stand,” said Kamlager-Dove.

"Gun violence, and the trauma impact to the community are primary public health concerns for the Community Safety Partnership Bureau,” said Captain Ryan Whiteman, Commanding Officer, Community Safety Partnership Bureau.

"To the shooters within our community, I implore you to pause and consider the ripple effect of your actions. Each bullet fired tears apart our families, fractures our communities, and extinguishes the potential of countless lives. Let this summer be a sanctuary of life, where the sound of laughter fills the air, and the dreams of our youth remain untouched. Let our communities be safe havens, where every child can flourish and live without fear of being a victim of gun violence. To the shooter[s] please no more victims of gun violence this summer,” said LaWanda Hawkins, CEO and Founder of Justice for Murdered Children.

“Gun violence is the number 1 killer of our children. How did it come to this and why do Americans accept this horrible and tragic reality? We believe, with a holistic approach encompassing public health solutions with impactful legislation, we can turn the tide. We've been at it for 30 years and we won't give up now,” said Margot Bennett, Executive Director, WoMen Against Gun Violence.

“How you going to heal us if you can’t feel us! Those closest to the pain should be closest to the power. The conversation and the inclusionary voice of the people is long overdue,” said Aquil Basheer, Founder and Executive Director, the Professional Community Intervention Training Institute (PCITI).

“Guns have become the number one cause of death for young people nationally and in California. This is unacceptable! My son Tony[’s] life was stolen by gun violence, but we don’t have to live this way, and we don’t have to die this way,” said Nicole Williams, Moms Demand Action South LA Volunteer Leader and Founder, All I Know Foundation.

“Soledad Enrichment Action (SEA) is a community-based grassroots non-profit organization founded in East Los Angeles in 1972 by mothers who lost their sons to gang violence. For over 50 years now, SEA has been dedicated to serving some of the region’s most vulnerable, at-risk, and violence-affected communities by engaging parents, youth, law enforcement, elected officials, and residents to sit at the table and arrive together at solutions for restoring peacebuilding and violence prevention as a priority policy agenda,” said Nathan Arias, Soledad Enrichment Action, President and CEO. “As a steadfast advocate for violence prevention policies, SEA recognizes that gun violence is a leading cause of premature death and that a comprehensive public health approach to addressing this crisis is urgent and necessary.”  

The United States has experienced close to 300 mass shootings this year alone, with nearly 20,000 lives lost due to gun violence. For up-to-date information on gun violence in our nation, visit the Gun Violence Archive.

Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove is a staunch advocate for gun violence reform. She is a cosponsor of many bills to address this violence including the Assault Weapons Ban, the Office of Gun Violence Prevention Act, and the Safer Neighborhoods Gun Buyback Act. For more information on legislation cosponsored by Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove, click here.

Original source can be found here.