WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Jared Moskowitz (D-Florida) sent a letter to Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Chairman James Comer (R-Kentucky) to request that the House Judiciary Committee and House Oversight and Accountability Committee hold a joint field hearing in Parkland, Florida on the issue of gun violence.

“We no longer need moments of silence; we need moments of action to protect our children, our communities, and our nation from gun violence.  I refuse to think that nothing can get done. This field hearing can serve as a model to start somewhere, to start a conversation, to get something done,” Moskowitz writes in the letter.

As Moskowitz points out, Florida passed the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act following the shooting, which raised the age to buy guns from 18 to 21 and instituted red flag laws, giving law enforcement the power to temporarily take away firearms from people too dangerous to possess them. This was done with the support of a Republican governor and a Republican-controlled legislature, and Moskowitz argues Florida can be a model for the federal government to pass commonsense legislation to prevent gun violence.

A copy of the letter is found here and below:

The Honorable James Comer

Chairman House Oversight and Accountability Committee

U.S. House of Representatives

2410 Rayburn HOB

Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Jim Jordan

Chairman Judiciary Committee 

U.S. House of Representatives

2056 Rayburn HOB

Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairman Comer and Chairman Jordan:

Guns have become the #1 killer of children. Parents worry as they send their kids to school, to the mall, or the movies. It’s a fear all parents live with. Public places once considered safe are now targets for gun violence.  I request that the House Oversight and Accountability Committee and House Judiciary Committee hold a field hearing in Parkland, Florida, to learn about the success of “red flag laws.”

On February 14, 2018, my community in Parkland changed forever because of gun violence.  In just under 6 minutes, 17 innocent lives were taken by an individual with a history of threatening and erratic behavior who could legally purchase an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle. I attended Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. I was at the school right after the shooting. My community was forever changed by gun violence. 

Following that tragic day, I worked with my Republican colleagues in the state legislature to enact the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act. This bipartisan legislation raised the age to buy guns from 18 to 21 and, more importantly, put in place “red flag laws,” giving law enforcement the power to take away firearms from those too dangerous to possess them responsibly. Since then, it has been used in Florida over 9,000 times and helped save countless lives.

It’s important to note that this legislation was passed in Florida under a Republican-led state legislature and signed into law by a Republican Governor.

I saw in person the aftermath of my high school where a mass shooting occurred. I saw what happens to a community when someone who is mentally unfit has access to a gun and can easily buy one, and I also saw that Republicans could enact “red flag laws” and go on to win re-election.

We no longer need moments of silence; we need moments of action to protect our children, our communities, and our nation from gun violence.  I refuse to think that nothing can get done.  This field hearing can serve as a model to start somewhere, to start a conversation, to get something done. 

I thank you for your time and consideration of my request, and I stand ready to do anything to find common-sense solutions to keep our communities safe from gun violence. 

Sincerely,

Jared Moskowitz

Member of Congress