PAWTUCKET - Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC) Co-Chair David N. Cicilline (RI-01) issued the following statement today:

“Once again, our national epidemic of gun violence has taken the lives of a dozen innocent men and women, and broken the hearts of their families and loved ones.  I will keep the families of those affected in my thoughts and prayers.  The shooting last night in Thousand Oaks, California should compel Congress to act immediately.”

“When Democrats assume control of the House next January, legislation to reduce gun violence needs to be at the top of our agenda. We need universal background checks. We need to ban bump stocks. We need to improve reporting requirements regarding individuals with serious mental illness who pose a threat to themselves or others.  We need to move ahead with other common sense gun safety proposals.”

“The President has indicated a willingness to address this issue in the past. He should make clear that he is willing to work across the aisle with Democrats in order to enact real solutions that reduce the epidemic of gun violence in our communities.”