Congresswoman Beatty Calls on Colleagues to Be “Big Enough” to Act on Gun Violence

This week, the U.S. Joint Economic Committee (JEC) held a hearing entitled, "Gun Violence in America: Understanding and Reducing the Costs of Firearm Injuries and Deaths." The hearing came on the heels of a new report from JEC Democrats highlighting the human and economic costs of gun violence.

"This is not a partisan issue. This is about people, real lives, and the economy." Beatty emphasized during the hearing, "We have to be big enough—Republicans and Democrats—to work together to enact common-sense laws, because if it is that important for you to own a firearm you should have to wait until a background check is complete to purchase it."

To watch an archived recording of Beatty's statement, please visit her YouTube page.

The new report "A State-by-State Examination of the Economic Costs of Gun Violence" explores the human and economic toll of gun violence in every state. The report found that U.S. teens and young adults are 50 times more likely to die by gun violence than they are in other economically advanced countries. In addition, the report found that the annual cost of gun violence nationally is $229 billion as a result of lost income and spending, employer costs, healthcare treatment, reduced quality of life, and police response. However, the report concedes that the economic toll may be higher because a decades-old, Republican-backed amendment prohibiting federal funds from researching, advocating, or promoting gun control makes it difficult to obtain a definitive dollar value.