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Date: 7/11/2022
Subject: Webinar: Assault Rifles - What can be done?
From: Joyce LeBombard, LWV Texas



 
For Immediate Release: July 11, 2022
 
For Information Contact:
Joyce LeBombard, President, League of Women Voters of Texas
jlebombard@lwvtexas.org
512-585-4090

Assault Weapons the Focus of Free Webinar

 

LWVTX, LULAC and NAACP partnering to bring critical discussion to the public


 

Austin, July 11, 2022 – The League of Women Voters of Texas (LWVTX) in conjunction with Texas State League of Latin American Citizens (Texas LULAC), and NAACP Texas State Conference (Texas NAACP) will be hosting “Assault Rifles - What Can Be Done?” a free webinar open to the public on Wednesday, July 13, from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. CST.  


Panelists include: Art Acevedo, former Austin, Houston, and Miami Chief of Police; Dr. Jeff Temple, Ph.D., Founding Director of the Center for Violence Prevention at the University of Texas Medical Branch; and Sandra McKay, MD, FAAP, Associate Professor at McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. The webinar will be moderated by Gene Preuss, Ph.D., Associate Professor of History at the University of Houston.


“Our hearts are broken again and again by gun violence in our country,” said Joyce LeBombard, League of Women Voters of Texas (LWVTX) President. "With semi automatic guns being the weapon of choice more frequently than not, it’s time to have a conversation about them and what must be done to ensure our safety.”


Rodolfo Rosales, Jr., Texas LULAC State Director, added, "There can be no political partisanship or bickering when it comes to sensible and meaningful legislation that keeps assault-style firearms out of the hands of people who should not have them. What reason is there for an 18-year to be able to access military-style semi automatic rifles without any credible investigation into his background? Our nation must consider limiting the availability of assault guns that have no place in everyday civilian settings in our community.”


In commenting on gun violence, LeBombard noted the positive step taken by the U.S. Senate on June 23, 2022, by passing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, a gun safety bill that allots money for the implementation and management of red flag programs, encourages states to include juvenile records in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System and implements a new protocol for checking those records. It also closes the “boyfriend loophole” along with other provisions including funding for mental health programs and school security.


“The gun safety bill passed by the Senate is a step in the right direction, but it doesn’t address assault rifles,” said Gary Bledsoe, NAACP Texas State Conference President. “The weaponization of the 2nd amendment is operating as an albatross on the neck of American freedom. We must act now.  We want to discuss what can be done about assault rifles. That’s why we’re hosting this webinar - to start a conversation, hear from experts in medicine and law enforcement, and figure out a way forward together.”


Register here for this free webinar: https://bit.ly/lwvtx-gun-reform-webinar



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MEDIA RESOURCES:


Statements and resources from LWVTX, LULAC, and the NAACP about gun reform:


The League of Women Voters is one of America’s oldest and most trusted civic nonprofit organizations. Formed in 1919, the Texas League represents more than 13,500 grassroots advocates and 34 local Leagues across the state. The League never supports or opposes candidates for office or political parties. The League encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government. The League also seeks to influence public policy through education and advocacy. Membership is open to people 16 years and older. 

League of Women Voters of Texas: lwvtexas.org

League of Women Voters of Texas
1212 Guadalupe St. #107
Austin Texas, 78701
(512)-472-1100