WASHINGTON — Today, Hip Hop Caucus’ Respect My Vote! Assistant Director Chris Walton issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision reversing a ban on rapid-fire bump stocks, a gun accessory that enables semiautomatic rifles to fire bullets like fully automatic machine guns:

“America has a problem that we refuse to solve. The U.S. Supreme Court decision in the case of Garland v. Cargill throws out nearly 100 years of precedent by effectively legalizing automatic weapons of war for civilian use. The Court’s decision is gravely irresponsible and will have deadly consequences.

For me, this is personal. My sister was in the crowd on the Las Vegas Strip in 2017 when a gunman using bump stocks opened fire and sent 1,000 shots into the crowd —killing 60 people and injuring more than 400 individuals. How many more schools, churches, malls, movie theaters, temples, mosques, neighborhoods, and cities have to be ravaged before this Court and Congress have had enough? 

Hip Hop Caucus, like many of our coalition partners, are strongly opposed to this decision which puts more lives in danger. This November, the ball will be in the court of the American people who will have the ability to elect state legislatures, state Supreme Courts, governors, a Congress and White House leaders who will be in favor of protecting the American people from the epidemic of gun violence. 

Hip Hop Caucus calls on Congress to pass a ban on bump stocks and assault weapons, and we will continue the fight to ensure that the will of the people, through their votes, are heard and respected this election year.”

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