Everytown Statement on Passing of Senator Dianne Feinstein

WASHINGTON — Today, Everytown for Gun Safety and its grassroots networks, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, released the following statements on the passing of Senator Dianne Feinstein:

“Senator Feinstein was a trailblazing champion for the gun safety movement, and no fight was too tough for her,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “In addition to leading the charge to expand background checks and establish a federal Red Flag law, Senator Feinstein was essential in passing the bipartisan 1994 federal Assault Weapons Ban. Congress should honor Senator Feinstein’s legacy by reinstating the federal assault weapons ban, which is the very definition of a common sense gun safety measure.”

“Senator Dianne Feinstein was an early, vocal champion for gun safety legislation, and her advocacy remained steadfast throughout her career,” said Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action. “We will honor her legacy by helping other gun sense candidates get elected, demanding accountability from our elected officials, and being relentless in our pursuit of keeping communities safe from gun violence.”

For decades, Senator Feinstein was a champion for sun safety legislation in the Senate. Her leadership was essential to the passage of 1994’s life-saving bipartisan federal Assault Weapons Ban. A 2018 study found that mass shooting fatalities were 70 percent less likely to occur from 1994 to 2004, when the federal prohibition on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines was in effect. Senator Feinstein also led the fight to expand background checks, implement Red Flag laws to allow family members to keep guns out of the hands of people who are a danger to themselves or others, and to raise the age to purchase assault weapons and high-capacity magazines to 21.