Van Hollen, Cardin Praise Biden Administration Commitments to Combat Gun Crime and Enhance Public Safety

U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) released the following statement Thrusday:

“We welcome the release of the President Biden’s comprehensive strategy to prevent and respond to gun violence and ensure public safety. There is no single cause of gun violence that has plagued our city, making such an aggressive, all-of-government response the most promising approach. We are encouraged that Mayor Brandon Scott participated in yesterday’s event with President Joe Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland. The selection of Baltimore City to participate in the Community Violence Intervention Collaborative will allow the City access to vital resources, including the use of American Rescue Plan funding to anticipate and respond to the potential rise in gun violence during the summer months. We are glad to see the administration partner with the Annie E. Casey Foundation to help identify and implement proven strategies to reduce gun violence and enhance public safety for families and communities. The Biden administration strategy also rightly expands summer employment opportunities and services for teenagers and young adults and helps formerly incarcerated individuals successfully reenter their communities.

“We look forward to working with various federal agencies to implement the Biden administration’s strategy and ensure that Baltimore receives the federal resources that it needs and deserves. Congress must also do its part by renewing the ban on assault weapons and prohibit high-capacity magazines, and should enact legislation to create a universal background check system for firearms. The Senate should also swiftly confirm a permanent Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Congress should give ATF the resources it needs to stem the illegal trafficking of firearms. These actions must be coupled with meaningful police reform legislation, including the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. We stand ready to help get this done.”