In an effort by the Democrats to turn "anger into action," victims' families and survivors of the Uvalde and Buffalo mass shootings will testify before the House Oversight Committee next week.
On Wednesday (June 8), victims' testimonies will be heard by the House Oversight panel in hopes of humanizing mass shootings ahead of lawmakers voting on crucial gun control legislation, per NBC News.
Those testifying during Wednesday's hearing include Zeneta Everhart, mother to Zaire Goodman, who was injured during the attack on Tops supermarket, Roy Guerrero, Uvalde's only pediatrician, Felix and Kimberly Rubio, whose daughter Lexi was fatally shot at Robb Elementary School, and Miah Cerrillo, the fourth-grader who survived the school shooting by covering herself with her classmate's blood and playing dead.
Oversight Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D) said the hearing is a bid to turn “anger into action.” Maloney added she hopes that “all my colleagues will listen with an open heart as gun violence survivors and loved ones recount one of the darkest days of their lives."
"This hearing is ultimately about saving lives, and I hope it will galvanize my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass legislation to do just that," she continued.
Next week, House representatives are expected to cast their votes on a package of gun violence prevention measures. Among the various measures, the legislation aims to raise the minimum legal age to buy a semi-automatic rifle from 18 to 21, make gun trafficking and "straw purchases" federal offenses, and reward states for passing red flag laws, which would help keep guns out of the hands of those deemed to be a risk to themselves or other people.
However, with the Senate evenly split, Democrats will have to jump over many hurdles in order to get any legislation passed.
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