Gun violence is the leading cause of death for children in the United States and is particularly harming Black and brown communities. Democrats in Congress say they are working to combat that.
U.S. Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev., told theGrio that gun violence is a “true epidemic” in the U.S. that “disproportionately impacts Black people.” He declared, “It is the single largest factor in death for young Black men and the second highest for Black women.”
The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) said that finding a solution to curbing gun violence should be taken seriously.
On Thursday, U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Ill., held a gun prevention press conference with fellow House Democrats U.S. Reps. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., Mike Thompson, D-Calif., and Horsford. Also in attendance were Gregory Jackson Jr., deputy director for the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, members of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, and members of Brady: United Against Gun Violence.
During the conference, Rep. Kelly shared details about the newly-released “Kelly Report: A Vision for a Safer America,” which illustrates the social impact gun violence has on Americans, especially young children. The congresswoman found that children who witness gun violence often underperform in school and suffer from psychological issues that prevent their development.
The report also found communities that endure a high volume of gun violence experience trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), resulting in feeling hopeless, fear, numbness, and hypervigilance.
Congressman Frost, the youngest member of Congress, told theGrio that the “Kelly Report” is a useful tool “to show members of Congress how Black and brown people are disproportionately impacted by gun violence.”
The report also lays out solutions to prevent further “bloodshed” in the U.S. due to gun violence, which includes passing laws that enforce comprehensive background…
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