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Pallone, Students, and Advocates Call for Action to Reduce Gun Violence & Make our Schools Safer

March 5, 2018

Long Branch, N.J. – Today at Asbury Park High School, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) met with students, administration and advocates to discuss the gun violence epidemic facing our communities every day. According to the Center for Disease Control, New Jersey had 475 firearm deaths in 2015. Just last week, 10-year old Yovanni Banos-Merino was tragically shot outside his home in Asbury Park. The discussion took place as young people throughout the country have demanded change after the tragic shooting in Parkland, FL.

"We cannot accept it as normal when a 10 year old is shot and killed outside his home," said Pallone. "We cannot accept it as normal that students throughout New Jersey must go to school afraid."

"I have been inspired by the millions of Americans, many of them young people, who are now calling for action to bring about common sense solutions to reduce gun violence," said Pallone. "We cannot allow this moment to pass without enacting change and your voice is essential to ensuring that Congress does not look the other way. I want you to know that I will do everything within my power to enact legislation to combat the gun violence epidemic facing our nation."

Congressman Pallone supports numerous common sense solutions to reduce gun violence and help keep our children safe.

They include:

  • An assault weapons ban, which will ban weapons of war like the AR-15, which has been used in mass shootings in places like Las Vegas, Aurora, Newtown, & Parkland.
  • Increasing penalties for "straw purchasers" who illegally purchase firearms with the intent to sell or gift them to individuals who should not have them.
  • Regulating the sale of firearms at gun shows and online, requiring a background check on all purchases (currently not required by many states).
  • Banning high capacity magazines.
  • Regulating the online sale of ammunition, conversion kits (to turn into military-style rifles), and large capacity ammunition feeding devices.
  • Allowing the CDC and other government agencies to use federal dollars to research gun violence and gun violence prevention – which the gun lobby & @GOP has blocked for more than 20 years.