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Leaders of 145 US companies want the Senate to pass a law requiring background checks on all firearms sales and enact a "red flag" law, warning that inaction in the face of gun violence is "simply unacceptable".
The request to members of the Senate, presented in a letter sent Thursday, is the latest attempt by private companies to tackle armed violence after the massacres this summer in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, in New York. Ohio, which have killed dozens. The signatories of the letter cover various sectors and represent companies of different sizes. The leaders of the publishing company Condé Nast, the financial firm Bain Capital, the Twitter social media platform and retailer Gap were among those who joined the advocacy.
"As leaders of some of the most respected companies in the United States and those with significant business interests in the United States, we are writing to you because we have the responsibility and the obligation to defend the security of the United States. our employees, our customers and all the Americans of the communities. we serve all over the country, "wrote the CEOs. "Doing nothing against the crisis of gun violence with the Americans is simply unacceptable and it is time for the American public to stand up for gun safety."
Business leaders note in their letter that 100 Americans are shot dead and hundreds more injured in cities ranging from Chicago to Gilroy, California.
"It's a public health crisis that requires urgent action," they wrote.
The CEOs urged Congress to expand background checks to all gun sales, saying the proposal was a "common-sense solution with overwhelming public support", which represents a "crucial step to halt the epidemic of armed violence in this country".
In addition, the extension of the laws on extreme risks, or "red flag", authorizing the forces of order to seize the weapons of the people risking to hurt themselves or to hurt of other persons, is "essential to prevent future tragedies," they said.
"These proposals are common sense, bipartisan and largely supported by the American public," said the company's executives. "It is time for the Senate to act."
The call from US companies comes as Congress faces increasing pressure to pass tougher firearms laws after 22 people were killed in a Walmart shooting in El Paso and nine people were killed. died during a shootout in a Dayton entertainment district.
After the rampage of El Paso, Walmart announced that it would stop selling ammunition for handguns and short barrel guns as well as selling these guns in its stores located in Alaska, marking an outing complete market of handguns. The retailer has also asked its customers to no longer openly carry firearms in stores where the port of show is permitted by law. The CEO of Walmart was not among the signatories of the letter.
A cascade of other stores followed the Walmart initiative by asking customers to leave their guns at home, including Publix, Aldi and Walgreens.
The House passed a bill to expand background checks earlier this year and Democratic leaders want Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky to submit the bill to the Senate for put to the vote.
But McConnell said last week that the Senate would work on a bipartisan agreement aimed at reducing gun violence and could include background checks and "red flag" laws.
President Trump told reporters Wednesday that his administration "was reviewing background checks" but wanted to "protect our big second amendment".
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