Urging Congress to Pass Gun Safety Legislation

As the Co-Chair of the New York Chapter of State Legislators Against Illegal Guns (SLAIG), traveled to Washington, D.C. Friday to lobby members of Congress to take New York’s lead and pass comprehensive gun-safety legislation.

Congress Members Carolyn McCarthy, Jerrold Nadler, Yvette Clark, Charlie Rangel, Grace Meng, Hakim Jeffries, Sheila Jackson Lee and Danny Davis participated in a roundtable discussion with SLAIG members, New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus and advocates to discuss the issue of gun violence.

The coalition of legislators are urging Congress to pass an assault weapons ban, background checks on all gun sales, and a ban on highcapacity ammunition clips.

I also spoke about federal gun legislation to the Counsel of Sen. Charles Schumer, Congress Members’ Carolyn McCarthy, Steven Israel and Peter King.

Following the mass shooting in Newtown, CT, I have worked to assemble a broad coalition of support among state legislators for an eight-point plan to reducegun violence.

Many of these measures were included in the NY SAFE Act, which has been hailed as one of the toughest gun-safety laws in the country.

Michelle Schimel is the New York State Assembly representative for the 16th Assembly District. She was first elected in a Special Election held on March 27, 2007.