Feinstein Statement on Dayton Shooting

Washington—Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released the following statement on the shooting in Dayton:

“Over the last seven days there have been three mass shootings that left 32 dead, including a 6-year-old boy. And those are just the shootings that made headlines. There have already been more than 250 mass shootings in this country in the first seven months of 2019.

“Last night in Dayton, nine dead. Yesterday in El Paso, 20 dead. Last Sunday in Gilroy, three dead. And many dozens more injured. This is what comes from such readily available access to guns, particularly military-style assault weapons.

“I’ve asked this question before and I’ll ask it again: How many have to die before opponents of commonsense gun laws stand down and let the American public have its say?

“Banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, tightening background checks, closing loopholes and giving states the ability take guns away from dangerous people are all proposals supported by overwhelming numbers of Americans, but Republicans in the Senate refuse to take up these bills.

“The House has already passed a universal background check bill that would make it harder for dangerous people to buy guns. The Senate could return to Washington this week and vote on that bill, but Senate Republican leaders continue to say no.

“When is enough enough? Countries like Australia and New Zealand acted immediately when they were confronted with tragic mass shootings. But in the United States we’re expected to see this as normal. I simply can’t do that. I won’t do that. I’ll continue to fight to get these bills passed and save lives.”