LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – Today Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01) released the following statement commemorating the Route 91 Music Festival tragedy in Las Vegas on October 1, 2017:

“Five years ago, a shooter opened fire at a music festival in my district, taking 58 innocent lives and injuring hundreds more. This remains the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history. My sincere condolences go to the families of those killed and injured and to the professionals who cared for them on the front lines. Today is a difficult day for all of Las Vegas, but in the face of unimaginable horror, our city has shown resilience.

“Following the tragedy, I vowed to help find solutions to prevent future acts of gun violence in our communities. My Closing the Bump Stock Loophole Act, which has been introduced every Congress since 2017, builds on existing law by requiring bump stocks, the device used in the 1 October shooting, to be registered under the National Firearms Act. This makes it illegal to manufacture, sell, or possess them. I was proud to spearhead the inclusion of this measure in the House-passed Protecting Our Kids Act.

“It has been five years since this tragedy, and we still have not outlawed the deadly device that led to these deaths. If a partisan court so chooses, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ban could be reversed, and bump stocks would become easily accessible again. Bump stocks legality has been challenged in various courts by the gun lobby since 2019. Consequently, I sent a letter urging Congressional leadership to bring legislation to codify this rule to make these dangerous devices permanently illegal and prevent future deadly shootings. I have also thrown my full support behind other gun safety measures, including a ban on high-capacity magazines and closing the Boyfriend loophole.

“I supported the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, signed by President Biden in June, with the understanding that it was a first step in keeping deadly weapons out of the hands of dangerous people. It’s past time we make our country safer for all of us and for future generations by answering the nation's call for action on gun violence prevention.

“During the president’s annual State of the Union address to Congress, I always leave my guest seat vacant, marked with a black ribbon, in memory of the 1 October victims. But that is not enough. Our community, along with the others scarred by gun violence, will continue fighting until we have made real progress in addressing this deadly plague. We are forever Las Vegas strong.”

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