Pro-gun control activists and politicians remained undeterred in pushing for stricter gun laws in the aftermath of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s endorsement of an impeachment inquiry against President Trump.
The House Judiciary Committee convened the “Protecting America from Assault Weapons” hearing on Wednesday, and those who spoke to the Washington Examiner said while there’s always a possibility for firearm bills to die in Congress, they’re not too concerned about the impeachment inquiry firestorm sucking the political oxygen away from their proposals.
“I think we can walk and chew gum. Our job is to do a lot of things and do them well, so no, I’m not concerned about that,” Rep. Eric Swalwell said, pointing to the large number of advocates that attended the hearing. The California Democrat ran his failed presidential campaign primarily on gun control.
Gun control advocates consistently lament the cycle of their proposals and bills gaining massive traction after mass shootings, only for the enthusiasm to end as time goes on and other issues are raised. Because of the attacks in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, they say they will ensure not even impeachment can stop their momentum.
“It’s always an issue in D.C. where everyone can’t be focusing on everything at the same time, so we’re still going to be working hard. That’s why today, despite all the craziness going on — impeachment — we’re still having our hearing, we’re still having our rally, we’re pushing for the vote,” J.P. Thomas said, who is the senior program manager of the Brady Campaign, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing gun violence.
“I think a move towards impeachment will suck the energy out of a lot of things. I’m concerned about guns at this certain point and time. I’d like the focus to stay on it,” said Rev. Michele Morgan, of the Newtown Action Alliance. “I’m grateful beyond all being for Chairman [Jerry] Nadler, that he’s continuing to have this conversation in the midst of a whole lot of other things. Let Judiciary do their work. I’ll worry about impeachment some other day.”
With a universal background check bill passing the House in February, the Brady Campaign has been pushing for an “assault weapons” ban to pass in the House. Thomas said the group will continue to pressure the Senate to hold a vote on the bill as the House deals with the impeachment inquiry.
