Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Chicago, IL – Today, JB Pritzker was joined by gun violence prevention advocate and founder of the Dajae Coleman Foundation, Tiffany Rice, to discuss ending gun violence in communities across Illinois. At the press conference, JB and Tiffany called on the General Assembly to immediately pass a package of gun violence prevention bills and called on Bruce Rauner to sign them. They also emphasized the need to address gun violence as a public health epidemic and lift up the communities most disproportionately affected by the issue.

“We’re here today to talk about gun violence, but we know we are long past the point where talk is enough. We need action,” said JB Pritzker. “This isn’t just about the mass shootings that dominate the media and capture our attention. It’s about daily violence ending too many young lives. Gun violence is a public health epidemic. Like treating a disease, we need to interrupt it, we need to reduce the risk, and we need to build safer and healthier communities. Today, the Illinois House of Representatives is taking a major step forward in this work and voting on critical gun violence prevention bills. The Senate should follow suit and pass this legislation and Bruce Rauner must do his job and immediately sign it.”

“Parents aren’t meant to bury their children. But for me and mothers like me across our city and our state, gun violence took our kids from us,” said Tiffany Rice. “We’ve gotten lip service and thoughts and prayers, but no action. The gun lobby has a seat at the table, but mothers and fathers who have lost their children do not. It is time to make sure that no other mother has to experience what I experienced. It is our leaders’ jobs to protect our families and it is time for them to start doing it.”