Montclair Mayor Joins Senators At Rally For ‘Strong Federal Gun Laws’

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller was among the advocates who stood alongside New Jersey’s two U.S. senators to push for “strong federal gun legislation” on Thursday.

Sen. Bob Menendez and Cory Booker were joined by students, teachers and gun safety advocates at a rally in Hudson County. The gathering was held in the wake of recent mass shootings in New York, Texas and Oklahoma.

Spiller, who also serves as president of the New Jersey Education Association, said he “refuses to accept the excuse that America’s gun problem is too big to tackle.”

“When our children’s lives are at stake, we cannot stand for excuses or inaction,” Spiller urged. “We need leaders with the courage to prioritize our children and communities over powerful special interests.”

“Those of us who value our children’s lives are going to use our voices and our votes to overwhelm the money and back-room dealing of those who think the deadly status quo is ok,” Spiller said.

Montclair’s mayor also spoke alongside Gov. Phil Murphy after the tragic school shooting in Uvalde.

“To those who say it is ‘too soon’ to call for action, we say only that it is too late for the victims in Uvalde, but not too late to protect other children across America from gun violence in the future,” Spiller stated.

Thursday’s rally came as Menendez and Booker prepared to return to Washington D.C. next week, where they said they plan to demand that Republicans join Democrats in passing “strong federal legislation.”

“We are going beyond thoughts and prayers – we are advocating for action,” Menendez said.

“Guns – especially assault weapons equipped with high-capacity magazines – do not belong in our schools,” Menendez said. “They do not belong in our supermarkets and movie theaters. They do not belong on our streets. Common sense legislation such as HR8 that would expand background checks and reinstating the assault weapons ban – these are measures that work and there is simply no earthly reason why Congress has failed to enact these bills that are supported by an overwhelming majority of Americans.”

Booker said that students, educators, parents, and advocates are “on the frontlines of the fight against a powerful gun lobby.”

“This includes legislation to expand background checks, implement extreme risk protection order laws, and require federal firearm licensing,” Booker said. “These proven measures, supported by a majority of Americans, will help keep communities safe and ensure that the horrific scenes we witnessed the past few weeks are not repeated in the future.”

• See related article: Let's Change The Way We Talk About Mass Shootings, NJ Experts Urge
• See related article: Don't 'Bully' Republicans Over Buffalo Shooting, Montclair GOP Says

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