Members of Connecticut’s congressional delegation have renewed calls for gun legislation in the wake of the mass shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada, where at least 58 people were killed and more than 500 injured.
Senator Chris Murphy called out his colleagues and the influence of the gun lobby.
“It is positively infuriating that my colleagues in Congress are so afraid of the gun industry that they pretend there aren’t public policy responses to this epidemic,” Murphy said in a statement. “It’s time for Congress to get off its ass and do something.”
To my colleagues: your cowardice to act cannot be whitewashed by thoughts and prayers.
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) October 2, 2017
None of this ends unless we do something to stop it.
Murphy represented Newtown when 26 children and educators were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012.
Others in the Connecticut delegation pointed out the frequency of mass shootings in the United States.
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro called for reforms including a ban on high-capacity magazines and universal background checks.
The frequency of these awful events—Newtown, Aurora, Orlando, Las Vegas—is striking and must be met with immediate action.
— Rosa DeLauro (@rosadelauro) October 2, 2017
“I'm a strong proponent of outlawing assault weapons. That's what's going to keep the people in this country safe," DeLauro said.
Once again, I'm devastated by the carnage in NV
— Jim Himes (@jahimes) October 2, 2017
Once again, I offer my thoughts & prayers
Once again, I wonder if we'll do anything about it
In a statement, Senator Richard Blumenthal said he was “furious” about another mass shooting.
“Yet again, we are watching in horror as another American community is torn apart by the terrible devastation wrought by a gunman,” he said.
“I hope that America reacts that way. And rises up and demands of Congress that it do more -- and do better.”
Blumenthal called the absence of action “complicity.”
Monday’s attack came just weeks before the five-year anniversary of the Sandy Hook school shooting.
“If you think what happened today was acceptable; if you think hundreds of Americans gunned down at a country music festival by a single man with an arsenal in his hotel room is fine, then do nothing," said Representative Elizabeth Esty, in a statement.
Esty represents Newtown.
“But, if you own guns, if you believe that the Second Amendment is important to you and to this country, and you believe that every American has a right to life and safety, I ask you to join us," she went on. "Send a message that, when it comes to gun violence, there is more that unites Americans than divides us. Be part of the solution."
Patrick Skahill and Lori Mack contributed to this report.
