MAZIE K. HIRONO COMMITTEE ON ARMED SeRUICES awa COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & ‘COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY nited States Senate “exmnmnentvnote WASHINGTON, D¢ 20610-1104 COMMITTEE ON VETERANS’ AFFAIRS June 22, 2018 Byon Nakasone 140 Alamaha St. Kahului, HI 96732-2489 Dear Byon, ‘Thank you for contacting me to share your views on gun safety issues. I have and will continue fighting to reduce gun violence, and appreciate hearing from you on this important issue. Far too many mass shootings have occurred in the United States in recent years, and they have all deeply affected our nation. The shootings in Newtown, CT (December 14, 2012), Navy Yard, Washington, D.C. (September 16, 2013), Isla Vista, CA (May 23, 2014), Charleston, SC June 18, 2015), Orlando, FL. (Iune 12, 2016), Las Vegas, NV (October 1, 2017), Sutherland Spring, TX (November 5, 2017), and Parkland, FL (February 14, 2018), all received national headlines and attention. However, we cannot forget that there are far too many other instances of gun violence that happen far too frequently in communities across the country. Tam very disappointed that even in the wake of so many tragedies, Congress has failed to pass legislation to make basic improvements to our national background check system or to limit high- powered assault weapons and accessories that make mass shootings far too common. Enough is enough - the victims of gun violence and their loved ones deserve more than empty promises, thoughts, and prayers. Awan oFfce WASHINGTON, D.C. OFFICE: ME Sop aca Manna Bovrvane RaSN08 ZThat's why I and several of my colleagues have introduced bills that would reduce gun violence Legislation such as Senator Bob Menendez's (D-NJ) Keep Americans Safe Act and Senator Dianne Feinstein’s (D-CA) Assault Weapons Ban of 2017 and Automatic Gun Fite Prevention. Act, would ban the sale and transfer of military-style assault weapons, high capacity ammunition magazines, and bump stocks. | have also cosponsored legislation that would close background check loopholes such as Senator Chris Murphy's (D-CT) Background Check Expansion Act and ‘Senator Richard Blumenthal's (D-CT) Background Check Completion Act. Additionally, 1 support 8. 834, A bill.to authorize the appropriation of funds to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for conducting or supporting research on firearms safety or gun violence prevention. S. 834 would repeal the law that prevents the CDC from conducting research into the public health issues related to gun violence. This restriction prevents the public from benefitting from objective scientific research into the various impacts of gun violence on the mental and physical health of our society, and even the author of the legislation has since expressed support for the repeal of this misguided law. For more information on these bills, please visit: hhutp:/thomas.loc.gov. Please be assured that | will continue fighting to pass legislation to reduce gun violence and improve the safety of our schools and communities. Again, thank you for contacting me. If you would like to stay in touch with me on this or other issues of importance to you, please visit my website at: hitp://www-hirono,senate,gov. Please do not hesitate to contact me again in the future if [may be of assistance to you in any way. Aloha, They K, Diino Mazie K. Hirono United States Senator