Washington, DC—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Citizens to Save D.C. Gun Safety Laws will host a “Talk Back to Congress and Help Save D.C. Gun Laws Town Meeting” next Tuesday, July 26th, from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at Shaw Junior High School, located on Rhode Island Avenue at 9^th Street, NW.   Mayor Anthony Williams, Metropolitan Police Chief Charles Ramsey and survivors of children killed by gun violence will speak, but an important purpose of the town meeting is to let Congress hear directly from residents on what the city’s gun safety laws mean to them.  The Congresswoman is especially inviting residents who have lost loved ones to shootings or otherwise have been touched by gun violence to come out and share their concerns and experiences.        

Because the city has fought back, Norton was able to beat back a bill for total repeal of D.C.’s gun safety laws that last year passed the House but was stopped in the Senate.  However, she is still fighting to keep the rider that the House passed last month, allowing loaded shotguns and rifles, out of the final bill. This rider was not approved by the full Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday.  Norton said, “I need the help of residents because fighting back matters.  The Senate bill is clean and the House approval of loaded long guns still leaves D.C. with the handgun ban and registration requirements, the parts of the law that have been strongest and most effective in saving lives.  If Congress hears directly from residents, we can go the rest of the way and save D.C.’s gun safety laws.”  City officials, the Citizens to Save D.C. Gun Safety Laws, other groups, and individuals helped Norton beat back three attempts to repeal the gun ban last year.  The co-chairs of the citizens coalition, representing every sector of the city -- parents of schoolchildren, victims of gun violence, business and union leaders, clergy, and civic and neighborhood organizations of every variety -- have stood with Norton, the Mayor and the Police Chief on numerous occasions to say that any change in gun safety laws will lead to more killings at a time when homicides in the city are at a 20-year low.  They will join Norton again at the town meeting next Tuesday.