Rep. Calvert Statement on Pelosi’s Political Approach to Gun Legislation

Today, Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42) issued the following statement regarding Speaker Nancy Pelosi's approach to gun legislation:

"I am disappointed that Speaker Pelosi has chosen a political approach in response to our recent tragedies rather than working together towards solutions as a bipartisan group of Senators is attempting. Violent criminals and individuals with serious mental illness are the two groups responsible for the majority of our gun violence. I support efforts to keep guns out of their hands. I do not support taking away the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding gun owners. This is the careful balance we must achieve and requires serious discussions, not partisan gimmicks aimed at dividing Americans.

I have worked to keep our communities safe by supporting the ban on bump stocks, which turn firearms into automatic weapons. I also strongly support addressing the mental health crisis in America driving these senseless acts of violence and believe we must do more to harden our schools against these threats. In the past I have worked to keep our communities safe by opposing soft-on-crime laws here in California that have decriminalized or reduced the sentencing guidelines on a number of violent offenses. These laws enacted by Democrats have, ironically, enabled violent criminals to maintain the right to own and possess a gun."

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