Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries Named the 2024 Federal Gun Sense Lawmaker of Year on the Heels of Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund’s Gun Sense University

NEW YORK — Today, Everytown for Gun Safety named Democratic House Leader Hakeem Jeffries the 2024 Federal Gun Sense Lawmaker of the Year for his leadership on gun safety.

“As someone who represents a district on the frontlines of America’s gun violence crisis, Leader Jeffries has been a steadfast champion of common-sense gun safety laws,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “Leader Jeffries earned our Federal Gun Sense Lawmaker of the Year award by using every lever at his disposal to advance common sense gun safety measures.”

“Leader Jeffries has shown up time and time again to stand up to extremists in Congress and deliver on gun safety,” said Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action. “We are so grateful for his commitment to fighting for the holistic solutions that will keep communities across the country safe from the threat of gun violence.”

“There are countless members in Congress that would rather offer thoughts and prayers than actually take action, but not Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Leader Jeffries has demonstrated what real leadership looks like when it comes to keeping our communities safe,” said Reem Khalifa, a member of the Students Demand Action National Organizing Board from New York. “He’s always made gun safety a priority, supporting life-saving policies like universal background checks, Red Flag laws, and banning assault weapons. When gun violence is the leading cause of death for young people–for my generation–it’s lawmakers like Leader Jeffries that continue to make the difference in this movement.” 

Leader Jeffries has been a stalwart supporter of gun violence prevention since he came to Congress, supporting universal background checks, Red Flag laws, investments in community violence interruption programs and banning assault weapons. During his first term as leader of the House Democrats, he, along with the Democratic Caucus, have used discharge petitions to attempt to bring multiple gun violence prevention bills to the floor, including expanding background checks and closing loopholes in the background check system, banning assault weapons and large capacity magazines, promoting secure firearm storage, and others.

Gun Sense Lawmaker of the Year is an annual award given around Gun Sense University  to lawmakers who are setting an example on how to lead on gun safety. Gun Sense University, hosted just last week by Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund, together with its grassroots volunteer networks Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, is an annual training and membership conference, bringing together volunteers and leaders of the gun violence prevention movement from all 50 states and Washington, D.C.