Like you, we were shocked and saddened by the mass shooting in Las Vegas. This year, we have lost more than 11,000 people in America due to gun violence. More than 23,000 have been injured. We think that you will agree that this is wrong and that the senseless horror must be addressed.
Following the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary, the Democratic Caucus established the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. Today, the Task Force has 129 members who have come together with a common goal: to prevent gun violence in our communities, schools, workplaces, places of worship, and throughout our nation. We are gun owners, former law enforcement, gun violence survivors, former healthcare providers, former educators, parents and grandparents, and concerned people who just want to put an end to the senseless and needless violence.
For years, we have extended our hand and asked the Republican Leadership to come to the table to work with us to find a solution. At every turn, they have refused. They rejected a bipartisan commonsense reform of our background check system. They refused to establish a Select Committee on Gun Violence. They have refused to even hold a hearing. Meanwhile, Americans are dying.
That's why we are asking you to meet with members of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. You have the power to make real change in America and protect our communities from the senseless gun violence like we saw in Las Vegas. Together, we can find common ground that respects and supports the 2nd Amendment while keeping guns out of the hands of people who should not have them -- criminals and the dangerously mentally ill. We are reaching out to you, please: join us in the fight to end gun violence.
We look forward to meeting with you to discuss this most urgent and troubling issue that is tearing apart our communities and our country.