After the assassination of Charlie Kirk on September 10th, 2025, a number of high-profile Democrats quickly demanded new gun control measures. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA), who chairs the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, and Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) were among those pushing for stricter regulations. Yet none explained which specific law could have prevented the attack — raising the question: What gun control measures are they actually proposing? A ban on bolt action hunting rifles with four round magazines? A ban on people who are dating/living with transgender people from buying guns? A ban for people on the left buying guns?
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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) called the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk “horrific” and urged Congress to take action on gun violence legislation. . . . “Are we going to do something, or are we going to argue over rhetoric? That is my question about this,” she added. “We have to pass gun safety legislation and stop this.”
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“This summer, America has seen multiple politically-motivated assassinations—first of a Democratic legislator, now of a Republican activist—because dangerous people turned to guns to express their disagreements. Both parties have been targeted, and both parties share a moral and patriotic duty to take meaningful action to stop gun crime from claiming more lives,” [former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords] added.
“Gabby Giffords statement on assassination of Charlie Kirk,” Giffords, September 10, 2025.
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“Any time anyone calls for responsible gun efforts … the criticism is always ‘you can’t even wait for the body to be cold’ or ‘why do you have to do this right after a tragedy,’” said Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.). . . .
“Every single day there’s a gun violence problem in this country, so, yeah, I’m going to continue to fight for it,” said Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.). . . .
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“Pass some gun laws!” shouted Rep. Jahana Hayes, Connecticut Democrat, after the House held a moment of silence and prayer for Mr. Kirk.
Rep. George Latimer, New York Democrat, later told reporters outside the chamber, “Does it take shooting a conservative to start to realize the gun scourge? I hope they realize it.”
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Both politicians reflected on the familiarity that is being experienced with gun violence [Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-IL) and Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)]. . . . “We need to go after gun violence,” [Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)] said.
