June 9, 2022
A Statement from Brenda Victoria Castillo, President & CEO of the National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC)
Last night the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Protecting Our Kids Act. Now, the Senate must act to pass gun reform legislation to protect our children, families, and communities from mass shootings. This year alone, 246 mass shootings have already occurred in the United States, 27 of which happened in schools. How many more innocent lives must be lost before our elected leaders enact meaningful reforms to end the ongoing carnage caused by the unregulated guns in America?
According to CDC data, firearm death has become the leading cause of death for children in America, which holds nearly half of all the world’s guns. With the 2022 Midterm Elections on the horizon, our community must rise to the occasion to ensure that our voices matter; we can and will hold policymakers accountable. Policies have real-life implications and highlight just how important it is for us to entrust political power in the hands of the right people.
Finding a solution to America’s gun problem also requires us to overcome current barriers to stonewall legislation. Despite polling numbers reflecting that more than half of Americans want stricter gun laws, some policymakers continue to prioritize and practice a pro-gun platform over the safety of their constituents. In the Senate, a bipartisan group of Senators is negotiating their own proposal on gun reform to overcome the filibuster and pass legislation.
NHMC urges the Senate to follow the House’s lead and immediately pass meaningful and common-sense gun laws. If the bipartisan negotiations fail, Senate Democratic leadership must have the courage to overcome or even abolish legislative obstructions, such as the filibuster. The livelihood and safety of our communities can no longer wait on stalemate politics. We need change now.
NHMC stands and grieves alongside Buffalo, Uvalde, Tulsa, and all the communities that have been impacted by gun violence. If we are to break the violent patterns of our country, we must confront legislative roadblocks and hold elected officials accountable.
Yours in the Movement,
Brenda Victoria Castillo
President & CEO
National Hispanic Media Coalition
