Bishop Barber on guns: 'Haven't we had enough children shot?'
Contact: Sarah Rothfleisch, 610-781-1370, press@24-7.us
Contact: Martha Waggoner: mwaggoner@breachrepairers.org
Bishop Barber speaks to People's Filibuster as Senate begins voting on gun safety
Bishop William J. Barber II, co-chair of Poor People’s Campaign, President of Repairers of the Breach, joined by faith leaders, gun violence survivors, and responsible gun owners from across the country amid Senate gun safety vote and Supreme Court strike down of NY concealed carry law
WASHINGTON, DC (June 23, 2022) – Today as the Senate began voting on bipartisan gun safety legislation, and the Supreme Court struck down a New York gun law, 24-7, The People's Filibuster for Gun Safety, held live in-person testimony from the Senate featuring the voices of public officials and everyday Americans demanding swift action on meaningful gun safety legislation.
Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), who worked to finalize the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, opened the day speaking on the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and the role everyday Americans have played in its success. Bishop William J. Barber II, co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign and President of Repairers of the Breach, highlighted the frustration Americans have felt as more communities suffer gun violence without immediate action.
Meredith Jacobs, CEO of Jewish Women International, spoke about the dangers of domestic violence perpetrators and access to guns and called on elected officials to close the loophole. Tim Shriver, Chairman of Special Olympics and founder of Unite, gave remarks on the will of the people and the unity behind gun safety in our country. Darius Baxter, President and CEO of GOODProjects, highlighted his experience growing up in Washington, DC and gun violence in his community that inspired him to take action. Marc Morial, CEO of the National Urban League testified on the urgent need to pass legislation to ensure this country is safe for all.
Highlights from the testimony include:
“Why, given the sacrifices that Americans give to protect their children, is Congress not willing to make sacrifices to protect these kids? This country has seen mass shooting after mass shooting, homicide after homicide, suicide after suicide for 30 years; Congress has seen shooting after shooting and done nothing. What is important today in this moment is that we break 30 years of inaction,” said Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) who has been instrumental in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. “Thank you for your action, thank you for your testimony that you have brought over the last week. People ask me, what’s different? The answer is simple: it’s all of you, the movement that has been built over the last decade and the last week. This isn’t everything, but it is unquestionably a result of the strength of people speaking truth to power here over and over again.”
“At some point, we the people have to say, ‘America, you have to decide that death is no longer an option,’” said Bishop William J. Barber II, Co-Chair of the Poor People’s Campaign and President of Repairers of the Breach. “Are we human beings created by God, or are we human targets shot by guns? The thirst for the most lethal of weapons in the hands of Americans – weapons of war in the hands of ordinary citizens – is more dangerous than an addiction to drugs. One of the worst statements I have heard is that our children have so much courage. Children shouldn’t have to have courage when they go to school because a gunman might come in. Haven’t we had enough children shot?”
Richard Small, an educator, Republican, veteran and longtime NRA member from Texas who turned in his AR-15 rifle following the mass shooting in Uvalde, said “Our gun owners are not the problem. It’s the people who abuse gun ownership who are the problem. I’ve read the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. They’re laws that would help make our communities safe, our children safe. I see people in the People’s Filibuster talking about personal stories of attacks and I am touched by them. I pray and hope that the Senate will step in line and make this possible; please do what’s right, listen to the people’s concerns, do what’s good for the people of the United States.”
“I have school aged children. I take them to school and some days, I confess, I screech up to the curb a little late and the door is already locked. The protocols are followed, that security did their job that day. While I’m thankful for that, I’m filled with sympathy and anger that that wasn’t the case in Uvalde, in my home state of Texas,” said Monique Pressley, Trial Attorney, Television Host, Law Professor, and Ordained Minister. “I live in an age where my children, since they were born, have practiced active shooter drills. I’m ashamed and righteously angry that in this great nation we can’t get this right yet. In this country we can do hard things, impossible things, we can rise to the best of us. We can vanquish the voices of the worst of us.”
“Did you know in Texas, where I grew up, you’re required to take 1000 hours of training before you can become a cosmetologist? But if you want to buy a gun, do you know how much training is required? 0. Zip. It makes no sense,” said Paul Begala, former advisor to President Bill Clinton. “I own a gun - actually, I own over 20 - all of them are for hunting. Each one is kept under lock and key and all the ammunition in a separate room. It’s just common sense. We hunters know about gun safety and we don’t want someone out in the field who doesn’t know about gun safety. We can do more. We can do better - we must be better.”
“Every 16 hours in the United States, a woman is fatally shot by a current or former partner. Federal law as it stands today allows abusers to keep their guns,” said Meredith Jacobs, CEO of Jewish Women International. “We need to do more to protect them. By the closing of this loophole, we will save countless lives.”
“We can’t heal anything we don’t feel. To those that have an opportunity to change the laws and protect the people, I’m asking you one simple question: What are you feeling in your heart today?,” said Dr. Marty K. Casey, CEO and Founder of UnGUN Institute. “Do you care about people or do you only care about people when it affects you? I know we can do better because we are better. We can’t allow these weapons to get in the hands of people that are hurting because their hurt turns to horror. What are you going to do?”
“We’re here to ask members of the United States Senate to respond to the will of the American people. This country is not divided on safety, this country is united.” said Tim Shriver, Chairman, Special Olympics and Unite Founder. “We’re asking the representatives of this country to take a chance. We’re not asking you to put on the uniform of this country and risk your life. We’re asking you to risk your position in the next primary battle. All of you. Take that risk for our country. Others have taken far greater risks, it’s now your turn.”
Darius Baxter, CEO and President of GOODProjects, said, “Like many Washingtonians in the 90’s, I found myself growing up in a world surrounded by gun violence. Too often, I found myself at the front row of funerals, yet here we sit, and we debate issues as if there are not real people on the other side of them. To know a problem exists and not do anything about it makes you a perpetrator. I refuse to be on that side of history.”
“The gun violence we face in this country homicides, suicides, hate crimes, mass killings, cry out for a new generation of elected officials who are going to act responsibly,” said Marc Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League and former Mayor of New Orleans. “So I stand with many today who call out and cry out for some of our leaders to join the majority of people who want a better approach, who are crying out for there to be action.”
The broadcast of Americans speaking directly to Congress - which is being streamed at 24-7.us - will take place every day, all through the night, and during weekends until Congress takes meaningful action to keep our communities and families safe. Anyone interested in speaking at the filibuster can do so from their location across the country by making a video directly on 24-7.us.
So far, there have been hundreds of testimony submissions from over 30 states across the country. Leaders and everyday Americans across parties, issues and constituencies that have signed on to support this effort can be found here.