Congresswoman Barragan

America is suffering from an epidemic of gun violence, and California’s 44th District is one of the communities most profoundly affected. Many in Congress seem satisfied offering thoughts and prayers and holding moments of silence instead of actually doing something. I will not be silent.

Congress must take all reasonable steps to both understand gun violence in America and examine the changes necessary to deter future threats. I support legislation to eliminate the prohibition on gun violence research at the Centers for Disease Control. It’s unconscionable that the agency has been effectively barred by Congress from researching injuries and deaths related to firearms. I also support closing loopholes in the national firearm background check system, and banning devices that turn a semi-automatic rifle into a machine gun, like we saw in the horrific shooting in Las Vegas.