Wolf became the first Pulse Nightclub shooting survivor to testify on gun safety measures before Congress on Thursday

ORLANDO, F.L. — On a press call Thursday afternoon, the Florida Democratic Party and the Democratic National Committee, along with Pulse Nightclub shooting survivor Brandon Wolf, Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy (FL-07), and Florida State Representative Carlos Smith (HD-49), slammed President Trump and the Republican Party on their broken promises to combat gun violence in America. 

The call followed Wolf’s testimony to the House Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee this morning regarding how the tax code subsidizes hate and gun violence in America. Just this week, Trump again made clear he will not support universal background checks — even though this measure is supported by more than 90 percent of Americans. 

Despite three years passing since the second deadliest mass shooting in our nation’s history, Wolf became the first Pulse survivor to testify before Congress. 

My best friends are not just a statistic. They’re empty seats at dinner tables, missing faces at birthday parties, they had futures that were stolen by hatred and the NRA’s obsession with easy access to deadly firearms. So when this conversation gets hidden behind complexity, or we’re told it’s too soon to talk about it, I’m just asking that Trump and Republicans remember my friends’ faces, remember their names, their stories, and honor their memories not with empty promises, hollow sympathies, thoughts and prayers, but with action,” said Brandon Wolf.

“I’m proud to represent Central Florida in the U.S. Congress, and as someone who was inspired to run in part because of the Pulse tragedy, gun violence is and will remain a top priority of mine,” said Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy. “It’s been more than 200 days since the House passed bipartisan legislation to strengthen the background checks system for gun purchases, and after decades of inaction, the House advanced this major piece of legislation that puts the lives of our children and the safety of our communities above special interests and politics… And I believe that the Senate must act now.”

“It was 612 days that passed in between Pulse and Parkland while then-governor and now Senator Rick Scott, the Republican-controlled Florida legislature, and the GOP Congress did nothing to prevent gun violence,” said State Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith.

Call recording available upon request.