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Congresswoman Beatty Holds Community Gun Violence Conference Call

July 11, 2016

Congresswoman Beatty Holds Community Gun Violence Conference Call

Beatty leads call on uniting the community

COLUMBUS, OH. – Today, U.S. Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) convened a conference call with diverse leaders, activists, elected officials, religious and civic organizations, businesses and individuals in Central Ohio to discuss paving the way forward to curb gun violence and to unite our community. The scheduled call included opening remarks from Columbus City Council President Zach Klein, Chief of Police Kim Jacobs, Reverend Fredrick LaMarr, Columbus City Councilman and former Public Safety Director Mitchell Brown, and community activist Al Edmondson.

During the call, Beatty challenged participants to unite because, “Everyone has to be all in,” Beatty said. “Too many of our men and women in communities across our country are being killed.”

The latter part of the call served as an opportunity for listeners to voice their concerns, discuss what is occurring in their neighborhoods, and to express their support of stopping the ongoing gun violence in Central Ohio. In addition, participants heard about and were invited to attend the July 14th “Lighting the Way National Speak Out,” at 7:30 p.m., on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Hundreds of people listened in while a host of community leaders and officials spoke about the need for greater coordination, a stronger commitment to do more to tackle gun violence, more economic opportunities for young men, recruitment of African-American police officers and uniting communities of all backgrounds with the police. Among those offering insight and solutions were Bexley Mayor Ben Kessler, Urbancrest Mayor Joseph Barnes and Franklin County Commissioner John O’Grady, along with NAACP Columbus President Nana Watson, Columbus Urban League President and CEO Stephanie Hightower, the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence, several moms, Genesis of Good Samaritans Ministries’ Terri Smith and many others.

“It is up to all of us—I cannot do it alone,” Beatty said. “One way you can help right now is by being involved, setting expectations for your community and contacting Speaker Ryan and House Republican Leadership to urge votes on bipartisan legislation we know that will help put an end to the senseless violence.”

Beatty concluded, “I will continue to rely on the advice and encouragement from my constituents, and hold personal meetings with police, community leaders and elected officials to make sure Congress hears the voices of the countless Central Ohioans clamoring for action. This phone call is just the beginning.”

The four pieces of legislation highlighted on Monday’s call were: (1) Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act, H.R. 1217; (2) Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act, H.R. 1076, (3) Background Check Completion Act, H.R. 3051; and (4) Hate Crimes Prevention Act, H.R. 4603. H.R. 1217 and H.R. 1076 were both introduced by Representative Peter King (R-NY-02) and are cosponsored by Congresswoman Beatty. She is also a cosponsor of H.R. 3051 and H.R. 4603.

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