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Office of the 11th Congressional District of Virginia
Formerly the Office of Representative Gerry Connolly
The Washington, D.C., office and the district office of former Representative Connolly will continue to serve the people of the 11th Congressional District of Virginia under the supervision of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Representative Connolly passed away on May 21, 2025. See Press Release
Reps. Connolly & Deutch Launch Effort to Add Gun Buyback Provision to Fiscal Cliff Deal
Washington, DC,
December 20, 2012
Adding $200 million to final compromise could remove 1 million guns from our streets. Read more.
Congressmen Gerry Connolly of Virginia and Ted Deutch of Florida want to see a $200 million gun buyback program added to any final fiscal cliff deal in Congress and they are asking their House colleagues to join them in signing their letter to Speaker John Boehner and Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. “Gun buybacks have proven successful in communities across the nation,” Connolly and Deutch said in a “Dear Colleague” to House members. “Adding $200 million to the final compromise on the fiscal cliff could remove as many as 1 million guns from our streets.” Noting that such programs are supported by law enforcement agencies as a valuable resource for reducing gun violence, the two congressmen said including the gun buyback program in any year-end deal “is a simple, immediate step we can take to assure the public we are committed to taking meaningful action.” In their letter to Boehner and Pelosi, Connolly and Deutch said federal financial support to help local communities and states conduct buyback programs could also bolster local economic activity. “Distributing funding to the States to run buyback programs using pre-paid debit cards with a three-month expiration date could provide a jolt to local economies that have stagnated in the wake of the recession and concerns over the fiscal cliff.” “The murder of 20 youngsters and six educators in their classrooms has galvanized the public’s desire for immediate action, and partnering with the States on a nationwide gun buyback program is a modest, common-sense start,” the two congressmen said. (Congressman Gerry Connolly’s 11th Congressional District in Northern Virginia includes the headquarters of the NRA. Six of the victims of the 2007 Virginia Tech shootings, including the shooter, were from Connolly’s District. Earlier this week, a column from Connolly on the subject appeared in the New York Times Opinion Pages. - http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/12/17/is-the-gun-lobby-invincible/politicians-with-courage-can-win ) Congressmen Gerry Connolly of Virginia and Ted Deutch of Florida want to see a $200 million gun buyback program added to any final fiscal cliff deal in Congress and they are asking their House colleagues to join them in signing their letter to Speaker John Boehner and Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. “Gun buybacks have proven successful in communities across the nation,” Connolly and Deutch said in a “Dear Colleague” to House members. “Adding $200 million to the final compromise on the fiscal cliff could remove as many as 1 million guns from our streets.” Noting that such programs are supported by law enforcement agencies as a valuable resource for reducing gun violence, the two congressmen said including the gun buyback program in any year-end deal “is a simple, immediate step we can take to assure the public we are committed to taking meaningful action.” In their letter to Boehner and Pelosi, Connolly and Deutch said federal financial support to help local communities and states conduct buyback programs could also bolster local economic activity. “Distributing funding to the States to run buyback programs using pre-paid debit cards with a three-month expiration date could provide a jolt to local economies that have stagnated in the wake of the recession and concerns over the fiscal cliff.” “The murder of 20 youngsters and six educators in their classrooms has galvanized the public’s desire for immediate action, and partnering with the States on a nationwide gun buyback program is a modest, common-sense start,” the two congressmen said. (Congressman Gerry Connolly’s 11th Congressional District in Northern Virginia includes the headquarters of the NRA. Six of the victims of the 2007 Virginia Tech shootings, including the shooter, were from Connolly’s District. Earlier this week, a column from Connolly on the subject appeared in the New York Times Opinion Pages. - http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/12/17/is-the-gun-lobby-invincible/politicians-with-courage-can-win ) Congressmen Gerry Connolly of Virginia and Ted Deutch of Florida want to see a $200 million gun buyback program added to any final fiscal cliff deal in Congress and they are asking their House colleagues to join them in signing their letter to Speaker John Boehner and Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. “Gun buybacks have proven successful in communities across the nation,” Connolly and Deutch said in a “Dear Colleague” to House members. “Adding $200 million to the final compromise on the fiscal cliff could remove as many as 1 million guns from our streets.” Noting that such programs are supported by law enforcement agencies as a valuable resource for reducing gun violence, the two congressmen said including the gun buyback program in any year-end deal “is a simple, immediate step we can take to assure the public we are committed to taking meaningful action.” In their letter to Boehner and Pelosi, Connolly and Deutch said federal financial support to help local communities and states conduct buyback programs could also bolster local economic activity. “Distributing funding to the States to run buyback programs using pre-paid debit cards with a three-month expiration date could provide a jolt to local economies that have stagnated in the wake of the recession and concerns over the fiscal cliff.” “The murder of 20 youngsters and six educators in their classrooms has galvanized the public’s desire for immediate action, and partnering with the States on a nationwide gun buyback program is a modest, common-sense start,” the two congressmen said. The Connolly/Deutch Dear Colleague and a copy of the letter to Boehner/Pelosi is below: December 20, 2012 Include gun buyback in fiscal cliff deal Adding $200 million to final deal would remove dangerous weapons from our streets and inject cash into local economies Dear Colleague, Please join us in signing the attached letter to House Leadership urging that they include a one-time gun buyback program in the final compromise to avert a fiscal cliff. No doubt, you continue to hear from constituents who are saddened over the wrenching tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, and are looking to Congress for action to reduce these incidents of gun violence. Adding $200 million to the final compromise could remove as many as 1 million guns from our streets. While we look forward to a robust debate of the complex issues surrounding gun safety in the next Congress, including a gun buyback program in the year-end deal is a simple, immediate step we can take to assure the public we are committed to taking meaningful action. Gun buybacks have proven successful in communities across the nation and are supported by law enforcement agencies as a valuable resource for reducing gun violence. Thank you for your consideration. To sign the letter, please contact Dominic Bonaiuto in Congressman Connolly’s office at dominic.bonaiuto@mail.house.gov or Ellen McLaren in Congressman Deutch’s office at ellen.mclaren@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, Gerald E. Connolly Ted Deutch Member of Congress Member of Congress Virginia, 11th Florida, 19th LETTER TO BE SENT TO BOEHNER AND PELOSI: December XX, 2012 Dear Speaker Boehner and Leader Pelosi, The tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, has stirred much debate around the halls of Congress and around kitchen tables across the nation about what we as a nation can do to prevent such gun violence from tearing apart our communities. One simple action we can take immediately is to follow the successful lead of some cities and States by initiating a one-time gun buyback program aimed at removing the most dangerous firearms from our communities. By including $200 million in the year-end compromise to avert the fiscal cliff, we could remove as many as 1 million guns from our streets. New Jersey, for example, set a new record for its buyback program just last weekend. In fact, so many residents showed up to turn in hand guns, shotguns, automatic rifles, and other weapons that the state had to issue IOUs after running out of cash on hand. Communities including Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and many others jurisdictions have registered similar results, and law enforcement officials cite these programs as contributing to a reduction in gun-related violence in their communities. In addition to signaling our commitment to the public to act decisively in the wake of this national tragedy, including a gun buyback program in the year-end compromise bill could help spur local economic activity. Distributing funding to the States to run buyback programs using pre-paid debit cards with a three-month expiration date could provide a jolt to local economies that have stagnated in the wake of the recession and concerns over the fiscal cliff itself. We also look forward to engaging with you and our constituents in a thoughtful discussion on such matters as limiting the availability of certain guns and ammunition, the role of background checks and mental health screenings, and other reasonable gun safety initiatives to better protect the public. But the murder of 20 youngsters and six educators in their classrooms has galvanized the public’s desire for immediate action, and partnering with the States on a nationwide gun buyback program is a modest, common-sense start. Sincerely, Gerald E. Connolly Ted Deutch Member of Congress Member of Congress Virginia, 11th Florida, 19th The Connolly/Deutch Dear Colleague and a copy of the letter to Boehner/Pelosi is below: December 20, 2012 Include gun buyback in fiscal cliff deal Adding $200 million to final deal would remove dangerous weapons from our streets and inject cash into local economies Dear Colleague, Please join us in signing the attached letter to House Leadership urging that they include a one-time gun buyback program in the final compromise to avert a fiscal cliff. No doubt, you continue to hear from constituents who are saddened over the wrenching tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, and are looking to Congress for action to reduce these incidents of gun violence. Adding $200 million to the final compromise could remove as many as 1 million guns from our streets. While we look forward to a robust debate of the complex issues surrounding gun safety in the next Congress, including a gun buyback program in the year-end deal is a simple, immediate step we can take to assure the public we are committed to taking meaningful action. Gun buybacks have proven successful in communities across the nation and are supported by law enforcement agencies as a valuable resource for reducing gun violence. Gerald E. Connolly Ted Deutch Member of Congress Member of Congress Virginia, 11th Florida, 19th LETTER TO BE SENT TO BOEHNER AND PELOSI: December xx, 2012 Dear Speaker Boehner and Leader Pelosi, The tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, has stirred much debate around the halls of Congress and around kitchen tables across the nation about what we as a nation can do to prevent such gun violence from tearing apart our communities. One simple action we can take immediately is to follow the successful lead of some cities and States by initiating a one-time gun buyback program aimed at removing the most dangerous firearms from our communities. By including $200 million in the year-end compromise to avert the fiscal cliff, we could remove as many as 1 million guns from our streets. New Jersey, for example, set a new record for its buyback program just last weekend. In fact, so many residents showed up to turn in hand guns, shotguns, automatic rifles, and other weapons that the state had to issue IOUs after running out of cash on hand. Communities including Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and many others jurisdictions have registered similar results, and law enforcement officials cite these programs as contributing to a reduction in gun-related violence in their communities. In addition to signaling our commitment to the public to act decisively in the wake of this national tragedy, including a gun buyback program in the year-end compromise bill could help spur local economic activity. Distributing funding to the States to run buyback programs using pre-paid debit cards with a three-month expiration date could provide a jolt to local economies that have stagnated in the wake of the recession and concerns over the fiscal cliff itself. We also look forward to engaging with you and our constituents in a thoughtful discussion on such matters as limiting the availability of certain guns and ammunition, the role of background checks and mental health screenings, and other reasonable gun safety initiatives to better protect the public. But the murder of 20 youngsters and six educators in their classrooms has galvanized the public’s desire for immediate action, and partnering with the States on a nationwide gun buyback program is a modest, common-sense start. Sincerely, Gerald E. Connolly Ted Deutch Member of Congress Member of Congress Virginia, 11th Florida, 19th |