House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (R-CA) is calling for more gun restrictions following the attacks Wednesday in San Bernardino.
“Gun violence is a crisis of epidemic proportion in our nation,” Pelosi told reporters Thursday. “We’ve had far too many moments of silence on the floor of the House and while it is right to respectfully acknowledges the losses, we can no longer remain silent.”
“What gives us the right to have moments of silence when we do nothing to act upon the cause of the grief?” She asked.
Wednesday 14 people were murdered when gunmen opened fire on a county health department party in San Bernardino. Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik, alleged to be the shooters, were killed by law enforcement following the attack.
Pelosi called for more gun control in response, pressing for the formation of a select committee on gun safety as well as legislation to expand background check requirements to include gun shows and the internet. She also called for passage of legislation to prevent individuals on the Terrorist Watchlist from obtaining guns.
“We must close this outrageous loophole,” California lawmaker said, charging that Republicans have blocked legislation that would have kept guns from terrorists.
Despite the gun violence that occurred in her state, she praised the gun restrictions in California and called for national restrictions as well.
“[W]e are very proud of our legislation in California to keep people safe and would hope that nationally we could come closer to that,” she said.
Pelosi added that without more information about the details of the weaponry and how the attackers obtained it she does not know enough to make judgments on whether a federal law would have prevented the massacre.