Congresswoman Cori Bush Votes on Measures to Curb Gun Violence in St. Louis
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01), Vice Chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, released the following statement after the House passage of H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, and H.R. 1446, the Enhanced Background Checks Act, two lifesaving gun violence prevention bills:
“Every single day gun violence is claiming the lives of St. Louisans,” said Congresswoman Cori Bush. “So far this year, dozens of people have been murdered in the St. Louis region. Just this week, a mother and her two children were shot and killed, and a toddler was grazed by a bullet. The devastation and trauma that gun violence has inflicted on our community is unbearable, unjust, and unconscionable.
“If we want to end gun violence in St. Louis and across the country, we must tackle the issue from every angle. Today, the House took a critical step forward in our efforts to curb gun violence. But I also know the work does not end here—universal background checks are the floor. If we want to build communities that are safe, we have to address the root causes of violence. We must invest in affordable housing, quality education, safe parks and green space, good paying jobs, comprehensive mental health and trauma services, and other supports that will help all of our people. This work can only be done together — and I look forward to leading in partnership with activists, organizers, community groups, and local officials to save lives.”
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Congresswoman Cori Bush represents Missouri’s First Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. She serves on the House Judiciary Committee and the House Committee on Oversight and Reform. She is also a Deputy Whip of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and a proud member of the Congressional Black Caucus. She is a registered nurse, single mother, and an ordained pastor. Following the murder of Michael Brown Jr. by a now-terminated Ferguson police officer, she became a civil rights activist and community organizer fighting for justice for Black lives on the streets of Missouri and across the country.