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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Ilhan Omar (DFL)

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RELEASE: House Republicans Stop Progress on Gun Violence Prevention Bills

Thursday, March 1, 2018

ST. PAUL, MN – Today, State Representative Ilhan Omar (DFL – Minneapolis) responded to Republican House Public Safety Committee actions taken on two bills authored by State Rep. Dave Pinto to prevent gun violence by releasing the following statement:

“I think the lack of courage shown by Republicans to lead on the issue of gun violence prevention is disappointing and sad. Republican Representatives spent an hour this morning twisting themselves into knots in search of excuses to oppose practical, common sense ideas to keep guns out of the hands of bad people. It was also disappointing to see immigrant and minority communities used as a prop in the testimony of gun advocates. If they are concerned about the ability of people with names like ‘Abdul’ and ‘Mohammed’ being able to pass criminal background checks for a gun purchase, I hope these same gun advocates will speak up when our immigrant and minority communities are being profiled at airports, at public event spaces, or by law enforcement. I don’t like being used to serve the purposes of people who think we need more guns to be safe. You don’t speak for me.

“Make no mistake, by tabling these bills, Republicans have killed them before they even started the process, and they should be held accountable by every Minnesotan who wants to see meaningful action on gun violence prevention. I will continue pushing to put common sense reforms in place that keep our communities safe.”

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