Newtown, CT — Tomorrow, the Minnesota House of Representatives will hold hearings on H.F. 8, a bill to require criminal background checks on all gun sales, and H.F. 9, a bill to create Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs). Expanding background checks and implementing extreme risk protection orders are proven methods for reducing gun violence, and the passage of these bills would save lives in Minnesota.
In response to the introduction of this legislation, Sandy Hook Promise, a leading national gun violence prevention organization, issued the following statement:
“Background checks and Extreme Risk Protection Orders are critical tools for keeping firearms out of the hands of those who seek to do harm to themselves or others,” said Mark Barden, co-founder and managing director of Sandy Hook Promise, and father of Daniel who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy. “We applaud the Minnesota House of Representatives for prioritizing these life-saving bills and urge their swift passage.”
Current loopholes in our nation’s laws allow 25% of all guns to be bought without a background check. Background checks have been proven to save lives and have been shown to reduce levels of gun violence in states that have expanded background checks to all sales. Similarly, ERPOs have been proven to help prevent acts of gun violence, including suicides, and have been passed in 14 other states. Sandy Hook Promise views both background checks and ERPOs as key parts of ending the growing number of school shootings and overall epidemic of gun violence in our country.
###
About Sandy Hook Promise: Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) is a national nonprofit organization based in Newtown, Connecticut. SHP is led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012. SHP’s mission is to prevent gun violence and other forms of violence and victimization BEFORE they can happen by creating a culture of engaged youth and adults committed to identifying, intervening, and getting help for individuals who might be at risk of hurting themselves or others. SHP is a moderate, above-the-politics organization that supports sensible program and policy solutions that address the “human-side” of gun violence by preventing individuals from ever getting to the point of picking up a firearm to hurt themselves or others. Our words, actions and impact nationwide are intended to honor all victims of gun violence by turning our tragedy into a moment of transformation. For more information, visit www.sandyhookpromise.org or call 203-304-9780.