Contact:
Elizabeth Fairchild
efairchild@businessfwd.org
202-861-1270
Washington, D.C. — Last week, President Biden called on Congress to take action and expand gun control measures in response to a series of mass shootings in the last several weeks. There is growing momentum in the Congress in support of bipartisan legislation to tighten federal gun laws and expand background checks for buyers. The Senate is expected to vote on House-supported gun safety proposals sometime this month.
Nearly 900 business leaders – representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico – signed a letter urging the Senate to pass bipartisan background checks legislation.
“We need universal background checks, we need an assault weapons ban—we need to protect our children, teachers and medical professionals not with guns, but with laws,” said Tasya Kelen, CEO of Isadore Nut Company in Minneapolis, Minnesota. “Universal background checks are long overdue and we need greater mental health care in our community,” she continued, “…As a small business owner, I don’t want my staff to have to fear for their lives or the lives of their loved ones.”
Gun violence costs Americans $280 billion each year: $12.7 billion is paid by taxpayers. Businesses across the country lose $1.4 million every day in productivity, revenue, and costs related to gun violence.
To learn more about why small business supports background checks legislation, download the statement document: Business Leader Statement on Gun Safety.
Click here to add your name in support, and to learn how you can further advocate for background checks legislation and gun safety in your community, find our training manual here.
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