Esty Named Vice Chair of Congressional Gun Violence Prevention Task Force

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 4, 2013

Contact Jeb Fain, 202-226-6732

Esty Named Vice Chair of Congressional Gun Violence Prevention Task Force

Will Work for Comprehensive Policies to Prevent Gun Violence and Keep Families Safe

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) was named today as one of 12 vice chairs to serve on the Congressional Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-5), chair of the Congressional Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, made the announcement today in Washington. The vice chairs and Thompson will make up the task force’s leadership team.

“I’m honored to be named to the leadership team for the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force,” Esty said. “As the Representative for Newtown and as a mother, I feel a special responsibility to that community and to the parents who have suffered such unimaginable horror. We can’t allow the loss of innocent life we saw in Newtown to happen again. We can’t allow the loss of innocent life that we have seen far too often in Waterbury and Meriden and far too many of our cities and our towns to continue. The status quo is unacceptable, and action is long overdue.

“Having met with law enforcement, our first responders, mental health professionals, and community leaders in Newtown and across our state, it is clear to me that we must take comprehensive action. That means commonsense, federal gun-safety policies that work as well as making a firm and lasting commitment to mental health services.

“Make no mistake – these are complex and controversial issues – change will be difficult, but there are moments in our nation when things that were deemed to be previously acceptable are no longer acceptable, things that were deemed impossible are now imperative. I’m eager to work with my colleagues on the task force for policies that will reduce gun violence and help keep families safe.”

“I am proud to appoint Congresswoman Esty as a Vice Chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force,” said Thompson. “As the representative of Newtown, where our nation recently witnessed one of the most horrific acts of gun violence in history, she will bring a unique voice to the table. I look forward to working with her and other members of the task force to enact meaningful policies that will help make sure our nation no longer experiences the kind of gun violence we are mourning in Newtown.”

Over the next month the task force will hold a number of meetings and hearings with different experts designed to identify the best policies to reduce and prevent gun violence. A comprehensive set of policy proposals will be released by the task force in early February.

The 12 Vice Chairs, including Esty, are:

·         Ron Barber (AZ)

·         John Dingell (MI)

·         Bill Enyart (IL)

·         Elizabeth Esty (CT)

·         Chaka Fattah (PA)

·         Carolyn McCarthy (NY)

·         Grace Napolitano (CA)

·         Ed Perlmutter (CO)

·         David Price (NC)

·         Bobby Scott (VA)

·         Jackie Speier (CA)

·         Bennie Thompson (MS)

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