Waters Statement on Shooting at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas

Waters Statement on Shooting at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas​

Los Angeles – Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43), Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, released a statement following news reports of a mass shooting at a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas that killed at least 26 and injured 20:

"My sincerest condolences are with the families of all the victims of the mass shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas. As we experienced during the massacre at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, these execution-style shootings are especially horrific when the gunman indiscriminately opens fire on families, friends, and children gathered in prayer in what is, for so many, a sacred sanctuary in a world filled with chaos.

"These mass killings have become all too common and frequent. We now live in a time in which it appears no place is entirely safe from the threat of violence. Our movie theatres, concert venues, clubs, schools, college campuses, churches, and parks have all become backdrops to some of the deadliest shootings in United States' history.

"The thoughts and prayers expressed by elected leaders are not enough. A moment of silence in Congress means nothing to yet another group of families mourning the loss of their loved ones. Members of Congress must do more than stand on the steps of the Capitol. We must be prepared to take action against the pressures of the gun lobby and pass credible reforms to curb the incidents of mass shootings. While no single solution will stop all mass shootings, we can make sure that criminals and people with mental disabilities are not allowed to purchase weapons meant for wartime combat. The fact of the matter is that if ISIS was at this point responsible for as many deaths of Americans on U.S. soil as the armed gunmen in recent years, Congress would have already acted to deal with the perpetrators as a matter of national security."

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