Rep. Mikie Sherrill Holds Town Hall On Gun Violence (VIDEO)

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill hosted a town hall event to discuss gun violence on Tuesday at Montclair State University, which touched on issues such as gun control laws, mental health resources and bipartisan cooperation.

Watch a video of the town hall event below or view it online here.

“As a Navy veteran, and a mom of four kids, I'm deeply troubled by the rise in gun violence across the nation and I approach my work in Washington from these perspectives,” said Sherrill, a Democrat who represents the 11th Congressional District in New Jersey (Essex, Morris, Passaic counties).

“Discussions like these are really critical to my ability to fight for our community in Washington,” Sherrill added. “And I can say with certainty that there are no two people in this room who agree 100 percent with anybody else on a single issue. So we have an opportunity to respectfully share what's on our minds and listen to our neighbors.”

“I know firsthand that assault weapons don't belong in our streets, and that we must do more to keep our kids safe,” the congresswoman continued. “I also know that legislation can address this violence because we've done it right here in New Jersey. So tonight, I look forward to sharing what I've been working on in D.C., like the bipartisan Safer Communities Act that enhances background checks, invest in mental health resources, and helps get guns out of the hands of those who may be a danger to themselves or others.”

Responding to questions from attendees, Sherrill said it’s important for members of the community to hold their elected officials accountable.

“Because until and unless it becomes politically more advantageous for a member of Congress to pass gun safety legislation, then to take money from the NRA,” Sherrill said. “We are going to continue to see this legislation undermine, we have got to make sure that people are holding members of Congress accountable and pushing them to do the right thing with respect to gun safety legislation.”

It isn’t only Democrats who are pushing for change when it comes to gun violence, Sherrill continued.

“I will also tell you, that we see a lot of I have a lot of my Republican colleagues in the House, who are also thinking very hard about this problem, because they're having a real struggle passing their agenda because of the extreme right wing, who now has a large say over what type of legislation is passed,” she said.

Sherrill said she expects support for the “moderate wing” of the Republican Party to rise in the near future, not just when it comes to gun violence, but other issues that require bipartisan solutions, such as the economy, climate and immigration.

“And so we really do have to have two parties who are working on those critical policy areas, and not people that are simply looking for divisive rhetoric that is not going to move our country forward,” Sherrill said.

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The town hall included input from acting Essex County Prosecutor Ted Stephens, who said local and county law enforcement has been working with their federal peers to address gun violence in the region.

According to Stephens, part of the solution includes more traditional policing tactics, such as using data-driven research to identify “hotspots” of violence. But it’s also important to work with communities – including those “less trusting of law enforcement” – in an effort to stop violence before it begins.

“Police can’t arrest our way into a better situation,” Stephens said. “We can’t prosecute our way into a better situation. It’s got to be done through education and through outreach.”

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Later in the town hall, Bob Davidson, the CEO of the Mental Health Association of Essex and Morris, spoke about the links between gun violence and mental health – including the well-being of young people.

“A single traumatic event, an individual, a child or an adult, witnessing an act of gun violence changes their life forever,” Davidson said.

“Gun violence causes an increase in depression, anxiety and crime – violence begets violence,” Davidson said.

“Every time a youngster either commits an act of gun violence, or dies as a result of gun violence, that means at least one adult has failed,” Davidson emphasized. “Not only one adult, but it's more likely that the whole community of adults has failed them.”

Davidson also pointed out that a large number of gun-related deaths are a result of suicide. And reaching out to people with suicide prevention services – particularly young people – is an effort that deserves all the funding it can get.

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Many in the audience, which included local members of Moms Demand Action, thanked the congresswoman for hosting the town hall. But others, such as the Montclair GOP, accused organizers of trying to “control the content of the event” – as well as Sherrill's political image.

“Sherrill and her acolytes know that there is widespread discontent among the electorate over Joe Biden's corrupt presidency and Phil Murphy's all-out assault on parental rights,” the group said in a statement prior to the town hall.

Sherrill was re-elected to her Congressional seat in 2022. The recently redrawn 11th District includes the following municipalities:

• Essex – Belleville, Bloomfield, Cedar Grove, Fairfield, Glen Ridge, Livingston, Maplewood, Millburn, Montclair (part), North Caldwell, Nutley, Roseland, South Orange, West Caldwell
• Morris – Boonton, Boonton Township, Butler, Chatham, Chatham Township, Denville, Dover, East Hanover, Florham Park, Hanover, Harding, Jefferson, Kinnelon, Lincoln Park, Madison, Mendham Twp (part), Montville, Morris Plains, Morris Township, Morristown Town, Mountain Lakes, Parsippany-Troy Hills, Pequannock, Randolph, Riverdale, Rockaway, Rockaway Township, Victory Gardens
• Passaic – Little Falls, Totowa, Wayne (part), Woodland Park

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