ABOVE PHOTO: Congressman Dwight Evans (D-2nd Dist.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. –On Wednesday, following a press conference led by CeaseFirePA in Philadelphia, Rep. Dwight Evans (D- 2nd Dist.) released the following statement about the NRA backed concealed carry bill H.R. 38, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017, that the House is considered on Wednesday.
Every day in our nation an average of 32 people are killed with a firearm. In the last few months our nation has mourned the loss of lives following two truly horrifying mass shootings — 59 innocent people were senselessly slaughtered at a country music concert in Las Vegas and 26 innocent people were violently killed while praying at a house of worship in rural Texas.
“The American people look to Congress for leadership, solutions, and ultimately, good judgment,” Congressman Evans said. “This bill H.R. 38, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017, and the decision to bring it to the floor, demonstrates none of those qualities. In the wake of mass shootings and the daily violence that we see in cities like Philadelphia, a piece of legislation is before Congress that is an affront to the decency and an imminent threat to public safety. It is more than evident that Republican Leadership has clearly lost sight of the goal of protecting the American people.
In October, I met with our Commonwealth’s Attorney General Josh Shapiro and presented him with a letter which voiced my frustration with the gun violence epidemic. I look forward to continuing to work with him and many others as we pursue our goal of fighting for and promoting public safety throughout our Commonwealth. Even the late Justice Scalia recognized that the right to bear arms under the Second Amendment is not an absolute right, when delivering his opinion in District of Columbia v. Heller in 2008.
Since my time in the Pennsylvania General Assembly I have fought to ensure that the people in the Keystone State, but especially in my hometown of Philadelphia and the western suburbs of Narberth and Lower Merion Township, which I am proud to represent in the Second District, have a clean, safe, and crime-free place to live. Yet, as a Congress we are being forced to vote on a bill that would set us back. I am tremendously disappointed in this reckless gun bill, and cannot state in strong enough terms my opposition to this dangerous piece of legislation. I will continue to voice my opposition to H.R. 38 and will continue to fight to deliver on common-sense gun reform.
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