We Should do Everything that Works to Stop Gun Violence

I released the following statement after voting against Democrats' legislation regarding gun control:

We should do everything that works to stop gun violence. The key being - works.

Regrettably, ‘universal’ backgrounds checks wouldn’t have stopped America’s mass shootings, but accurate background checks can. Fort Hood, Charleston, Southerland Springs and the recent shooting in Aurora – all might have been prevented with real-time, accurate background checks.

That’s why I and other Republicans support a new law to fix the flaws in the national background check system – insisting that local, state and federal governments work together to share information and stop firearms from getting into the hands of those who shouldn’t have them.  

We have to do more. I support more mental health resources, more research into what drives mass shootings, more local law enforcement training and more to stop black-market firearms sales and ‘straw purchasers’.   

I have two children. I want them safe at school, at work, and in our community. Americans deserve real solutions to combat gun violence; we can achieve  that while protecting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.

Background:

In the 115^th Congress, Representative Brady supported these important pieces of legislation:

• The Fix NICS Act, which strengthens and enforces the laws overseeing the National Instant Criminal Background Check System;
• The STOP School Violence Act to provide grants to states, local governments, and Indian tribes to improve school security; and
• Clarifications to the "Dickey Amendment," which finally allows the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to conduct research on gun violence.

In addition, Representative Brady is supporting the Mass Violence Prevention (MVP) Act of 2019:

• The MVP Act addresses the underlying causes of repeated tragedies, such as failing to enforce existing laws and the lack of coordination between law enforcement.
• The MVP Act will reduce the flow of firearms into the black market, limiting the number of weapons available to criminals; and
• The MVP Act establishes a command center at the FBI—improving law enforcement coordination, information sharing and responsiveness to help prevent these mass violence attacks before they happen.