WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tonight, Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) released the following statement following the passage of H.R. 7910:

While the House-passed measures tonight are far from perfect, they are a necessary step to incentivize the Senate to finally advance a bipartisan proposal that will address the legislative component of school and community safety, once and for all. Let me be clear: I am a strong supporter of the Second Amendment and all of the protections that it entails. I also believe that we have no higher responsibility as leaders, no higher responsibility as human beings, than to protect our children and to keep our community safe. These are not and must not be mutually exclusive concepts.

Our policies should support responsible gun ownership. We must protect mentally healthy, law abiding citizens’ right to protect and defend themselves, their families, their homes and their communities, and we must also prevent mentally ill individuals and criminals from gaining access to firearms and causing harm to others. If we’re going to stop the violence plaguing our nation, we must all accept these basic premises.

If we are committed to this goal, we must simultaneously address the legislative component, the mental health component and the physical security component that is driving these tragedies. Addressing one without the others will not solve this problem. Tonight’s measures begin the conversation to address the legislative piece in a bipartisan, bicameral manner. I urge our Senate colleagues to rise to the challenge so that we can protect both our constitutional rights and our community’s safety. I am working actively with the Senate on these goals. We can and must accomplish both.