Congressman Dan Goldman Pushes for Gun Violence to Be Declared a Public Health Crisis
Gun Violence in the United States Reaches Historic Levels
Urges a Coordinated Whole-of-Government Effort to Addressing the Gun Violence Public Health Crisis
Read the Resolution Here
Washington, DC – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) joined Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) to introduce a resolution declaring gun violence a public health crisis. The resolution comes in the wake of historic gun violence levels in the United States, impacting communities in schools, places of worship, and other public places. Gun violence is now the leading cause of death for children and teens in the U.S.
“Gun violence is a public health crisis, and we cannot begin to make desperately needed change until we acknowledge it as such,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “I’m a father to five kids, and like parents all across this country, I fear for their safety every time I send them off to school, to shopping malls, to concerts – places that should be safe and enjoyable for every kid in this country. This crisis will take a whole of government effort, and that begins with treating it with the urgency it requires.”
The resolution:
Urges a whole-of-government effort to address the gun violence public health crisis and ensure the safety of all children;
Urges the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to continue its work utilizing the 4-step public health approach to violence prevention and collaborate with other Federal Government agencies to resolve the gun violence public health crisis;
Urges the Surgeon General to issue a report on firearm injuries and violence prevention;
Supports the resolutions drafted, introduced, and adopted by cities, localities, and States across the Nation declaring gun violence a public health crisis or emergency; and
Commits the House of Representatives to ending the gun violence public health crisis so that all people can enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Combating gun violence and holding gun manufacturers accountable are foundational to Congressman Goldman’s work to make our communities safer. In February, the Congressman cosponsored a package of gun violence prevention legislation including an assault weapons ban, a bipartisan bill to require background checks for all firearm sales, and Ethan’s Law, to require safe firearm storage to protect children and others from unsecured firearms.
In March, Congressman Goldman called for an end to the bump stock loophole, making it illegal to manufacture, sell, or possess the firearm modification that enables shooters to fire semiautomatic rifles continuously with one pull of the trigger, similar to a fully automatic weapon.
Earlier this week, Congressman Goldman cosponsored a package of legislation that both establishes a federal “red flag” program and strengthens state and local efforts through the creation of grant programs to support the implementation of extreme risk protection order laws. Additionally, he cosponsored the ‘End Gun Violence Act’ to prohibit individuals convicted of a violent misdemeanor from purchasing handguns or ammunition for five years after conviction.
Congressman Goldman is a Vice Chair of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force and was recently named as Chair of the Dads Caucus Gun Violence Prevention Working Group.
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