Fellow Illinoisan,

In the summer of 2019, we saw the tragic toll of daily gun violence across America and horrific mass shootings in towns from Ohio to Texas.  

Too often, these tragedies are related by a set of commonalities. Military-grade weapons. High capacity magazines. Open carry laws. Easy access to guns. In Dayton, Ohio, the shooter was shot and killed by law enforcement officers in under a minute - and was still able to kill nine people and injure dozens more.

DURBIN TO MCCONNELL: DO SOMETHING ON GUN VIOLENCE

The American people have had enough, and so have Senate Democrats. Americans of all backgrounds overwhelmingly support commonsense gun safety reforms like expanded background checks. But they don’t have faith in Congress - for good reason. That’s why, this week, dozens of Democratic Senators went to the Senate floor to share stories about those impacted by gun violence - and to push for a vote on the House-passed Bipartisan Background Checks Act. Unfortunately, the Republican-controlled Senate stands in the way of any meaningful change. 

Little progress can be made while Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell proudly presides over the do-nothing Senate. The House of Representatives has done their job. They passed a series of bills that would implement the very same reforms that the American people so strongly support. Meanwhile, Senator McConnell won’t even call a vote.

I’ll continue working on commonsense gun safety reforms like those that have already passed the House of Representatives. It’s my duty as an elected official to listen to the people I represent. I can only hope my Republican colleagues will join me. 

Sincerely, 

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL)