“Today, in the wake of last week’s shooting in Buffalo, yet another horrific and unacceptable act of gun violence took the lives of 14 innocent children at an elementary school in Texas. As a father, my heart is broken for the families who are reeling from this senseless, horrific tragedy. There is no greater responsibility than protecting our children - and our nation is failing this most basic test.

“The American people are waiting in exasperation and terror as members of Congress sit on their hands rather than pass nationwide gun safety legislation. And the U.S. Senate needs to confirm Steve Dettelbach without delay as Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms to ensure that the federal agency tasked with enforcing our nation’s gun laws has the strong leadership it needs to keep guns out of the wrong hands.”

“I introduced a comprehensive gun safety 3.0 package over a year ago and this moment demands that our Legislature finally take action. This legislation will not only make it harder for guns to fall into the wrong hands, but will also give law enforcement greater tools to protect communities - including our children - from gun violence. 

“Let us not delay even one day more.”