Washington D.C. — Today, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) joined House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Chair Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) and 115 Members of Congress in a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson calling on House Republican leadership to take action to address America’s gun violence epidemic.

“God’s children are being killed every day in our country in part because of the inaction of Republican leadership on gun violence prevention legislation. Families of every faith in America have empty chairs around the dinner table because Republicans have failed to answer our constituents’ prayers for action,” the Members wrote. “In response to the gun violence crisis, you have called for more thoughts and prayers without a commitment to taking any action to address the bloodshed.”

“The book of John says that ‘the good shepherd lays down his life’ for his flock. As Democrats, we are not asking for personal sacrifice, but simply that Republican leadership work with us to enact common sense laws that will save lives. We stand ready to work with you on any policies that will help end gun violence.”

The full letter can be found here and below.

Dear Speaker Johnson,

As House Democrats, we write about our deep concerns with your troubling comments following the devastating mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine where 18 people were killed and another 13 were injured.

Mr. Speaker, our children, God’s children, are being killed every day in our country in part because of the inaction of Republican leadership on gun violence prevention legislation. Families of every faith in America have empty chairs around the dinner table because Republicans have failed to answer our constituents’ prayers for action.

In response to the gun violence crisis, you have called for more thoughts and prayers without a commitment to taking any action to address the bloodshed. As Speaker, you were quoted as saying, “This is a dark time in America. We have a lot of problems, and we are hopeful and prayerful. Prayer is appropriate at a time like this, that this senseless violence can stop.” Additionally, during a recent interview about gun violence prevention legislation you said, “America’s problem is not guns. America’s problem is a heart problem.”

This fatalistic view of gun violence is factually wrong and paints a dark view of America and its people. First, gun violence in America is not inevitable, it is simply tolerated by Republican leadership. Second, gun violence prevention legislation is evidence-based and saves lives. In fact, the state of Louisiana has an “F” rank on the Giffords gun violence scorecard because it fails to enact universal background checks and a red flag law, has weak gun domestic violence laws, and allows assault weapons and large capacity magazines to be sold. Not surprisingly, gun deaths in Louisiana are 99 percent above the national average, second only to Mississippi.

Conversely, the states that emphasize responsible gun ownership with strong gun safety laws have the lowest rate of gun violence. Troublingly, more and more of the gun violence in those states is perpetrated by guns that flow in from states with weak gun laws. We need a stronger national floor that protects all Americans from gun violence.

Epidemic levels of gun violence are an American problem because we uniquely allow people who are a danger to themselves or others easy access to firearms. The gun homicide rate in America is 26 times that of other high-income countries. It is outrageous to insinuate that Americans have 26 times the mental health challenges or our fellow Americans’ hearts are 26 times more troubled than our international peers.

House Democrats will continue to demand action on the gun violence epidemic. We urge you to hear the prayers of the children terrified of being killed at school and the families praying for leaders to lead. The book of John says that “the good shepherd lays down his life” for his flock. As Democrats, we are not asking for personal sacrifice, but simply that Republican leadership work with us to enact common sense laws that will save lives. We stand ready to work with you on any policies that will help end gun violence.