Hirono Joins Students from Kauai High School to Demand Action on Gun Violence

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Senator Mazie K. Hirono joined thousands of students, including 22 from Kauai High School, at the U.S. Capitol for the National School Walkout Rally to call for sensible gun safety legislation and an end to gun violence.

“So many American students, led by the brave, articulate survivors of Parkland, are standing up, sharing their stories and calling for change,” Senator Hirono said. “I’m inspired by their determination and will continue to fight alongside them as we work to pass sensible gun safety legislation and an end to gun violence.”

Earlier today, Senator Hirono questioned government witnesses about the importance of closing loopholes in the National Instant Criminal Background Check system and the need to repeal the Dickey Amendment – which effectively prevents the Centers for Disease Control from studying the effects and causes of gun violence.

Senator Hirono is a strong and consistent supporter of common sense gun safety legislation in the Senate. Last year, she introduced a bill that would close a loophole in the Uniform Code of Military Justice that allows convicted abusers to purchase firearms. Closing this loophole could have helped to prevent the shooter in Sutherland Springs, Texas, from accessing the firearm that he used to kill 26 people while they attended church. 

Last year she also joined Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) in reintroducing legislation that would ban the sale, transfer, manufacture, and importation of military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines.

Senator Hirono has also co-sponsored numerous pieces of legislation that would strengthen our criminal background check system, ban high capacity ammunition magazines, prevent domestic abusers from accessing firearms, repeal the Dickey Amendment, and make straw purchasing and firearms trafficking federal crimes. 

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