Cummings Applauds House Task Force’s Gun Violence Prevention Principles

Washington, DC – Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, issued the following statement in response to today's announcement of a comprehensive set of policy principles to reduce gun violence by Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Mike Thompson, Chairman of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force:

"The horrific violence at Sandy Hook was a wake-up call for Americans across the country, who want their elected leaders to work together to pass common-sense measures to make our country safer. I commend Rep. Thompson and the task force for these very thoughtful proposals, which will go a long way toward reducing gun violence in this country."

This week, Cummings, along with Reps. Meehan, Maloney, and Rigell, introduced the first bipartisan bill in the House during this Congress to make firearms trafficking a federal crime and impose stronger penalties for "straw purchasers" who buy guns for convicted felons and others who are prohibited from buying guns on their own.

Yesterday, six additional Republican and Democratic Representatives joined as co-sponsors of the bill.

For more information on H.R. 452, The Gun Trafficking Prevention Act of 2013, visit our website here.