Ayanna Pressley is an advocate, a policy-maker, an activist, and a survivor. On November 6, 2018, Ayanna was elected to represent Massachusetts’ 7th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, making her the first woman of color to be elected to Congress from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Ayanna believes that the people closest to the pain should be closest to the power, and that a diversity of voices in the political process is essential to crafting more effective public policy.
Congress must act to strengthen gun control laws in our country – the deaths, injuries, and trauma associated with gun violence are simply too significant to ignore any longer. At the very least, comprehensive background checks on ALL gun sales and banning anyone on no-fly lists from obtaining guns should be passed immediately. These are common sense policies supported by the vast majority of Americans – it is the NRA that is preventing their passage. Now is the time to stand up to the gun lobby and protect our communities.
Ayanna believes that we must take additional steps to reduce the numbers of guns in our communities. Banning assault weapons and accessories like bump stocks is a first step. We must also raise the age limit to buy guns from 18 to 21. How can we restrict young people from purchasing alcohol before the age of 21, but allow them to easily purchase military-style assault weapons?
And Ayanna will work in Congress to require the CDC to study the epidemic of gun violence as a public health issue, because that’s what it is. Beyond those killed and injured, gun violence leaves an indelible mark on others in the affected community. As a Boston City Councilor, Ayanna convened the first-ever listening only hearing where she and her fellow Councilors heard from more than 300 surviving family members of homicide victims. This hearing, along with her work across Boston, has led Ayanna to consistently advocate for wrap around trauma support services for victims, their families, and community members.