Everytown, Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action Applaud House Passage of Protecting Our Kids Act

WASHINGTON – Today, Everytown for Gun Safety and its grassroots networks, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, released the following statements as the House of Representatives passed the Protecting Our Kids Act, a package of eight gun safety bills introduced by Reps. Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Mike Thompson (D-CA), and Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), with bipartisan support. The bill would raise the age to purchase semi-automatic rifles to 21, limit access to high-capacity magazines, regulate bump stocks, prohibit unserialized ghost guns, create stricter penalties for gun trafficking, and establish a requirement to securely store firearms at home, especially when a child is present in the house.

“In the wake of Buffalo, Uvalde, Tulsa, and countless other shootings that don’t make headlines, the American people are demanding bold action from lawmakers — and the House is delivering,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “I applaud Speaker Pelosi for leading the charge, and I once again call on the Senate to follow the House’s lead and pass common-sense laws to keep American families safe.”

“We don’t have to accept our gun violence epidemic that takes over 110 lives per day as normal – and thankfully the House agrees and is taking action,” said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action. “Our grassroots gun violence prevention movement is thankful to gun sense champions in the House for putting public safety above gun industry profits and passing these life saving policies.”

“There is no reason why someone should be able to buy a semi-automatic assault weapon when they aren’t even old enough to buy a drink,” said Avery Hamill, a volunteer leader with Students Demand Action in Philadelphia and a member of the National Advisory Board. “Too often, students see the same story about preventable  gun violence in our schools and communities and devastation follows. We shouldn’t have fear that every time we walk into school that we might not come out. We’re thankful to the House for once again making gun safety a priority, and look forward to the Senate following suit immediately.”

The House has already passed lifesaving gun safety legislation this Congress, including a bill to require background checks on all gun sales, a bill to address the Charleston loophole, a bill to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act and close the dating partner loophole, and the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act— all of which President Biden has called for. With the House taking bold action on gun safety, and President Biden’s strong executive actions on gun safety, it is time for the Senate to act.