Pelosi Tells Brady Campaign Just '20, 30' More Co-Sponsors Needed to Move Gun Control Bill

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) told a Brady Campaign event yesterday that just “20, 30 more” co-sponsors are needed on a gun-control bill to push it to the floor, and “there are at least 30 more who would vote for it.”

Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) has been tasked with gathering co-sponsors in the House while Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has been whipping his colleagues in the upper chamber to revive gun-control legislation.

“At the beginning of every Congress we take an oath of office to protect and defend — that’s our first responsibility. It’s an honor to take that oath, but I’m ashamed to be here to face all of you not having finished the job yet,” said in her opening remarks.

“We must be relentless in how we pursue this, how we protect and defend the American people. In the two decades since the Brady Bill was signed into law, over two million gun requests did not get approved. Imagine: it stopped two million illegal gun purchases and helped protect millions of Americans from the incomprehensible tragedy felt by all of you here today,” she added.

Thompson, chairman of the Democrats’ gun-control task force, has “185, possibly 186” co-sponsors “at the end of the day,” Pelosi said.

“That’s a large number of co-sponsors for a gun violence prevention legislation. That’s a large number of people to put their name in advance on a bill — not knowing if it’s ever even going to come up. Three, perhaps four by the end of the day are Republicans. But a large number of Republicans have assured Mr. Thompson, and others of us, that they will be there if the bill comes to the floor,” she said.

“Nobody’s political career is more important than protecting the American people. Who among us is of such value that we would not say, ‘I’ll take a risk, so that our kids don’t have to take a risk and be in danger?’ So, I think there’s reason to be hopeful… And when it passes the House, some senators — well-intentioned — would no longer have the excuse: ‘It’s no use my risking my political career because it’s not going any place in the House.’ Let’s prove it. Let’s turn that around.”