Originally published in the Daily Local

U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan will host a Gun Violence Prevention telephone Town Hall on Thursday, June 16 in the wake of the number of mass shootings that have taken place recently. So far this year in the U.S., there have been 246 mass shootings in which four or more people have been shot, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Among developed economies, no others have nearly as many violent firearm deaths as the U.S.

“As a third-generation veteran and proud Pennsylvanian, I know the topic of gun violence prevention is personal for many people in Chester and Berks counties,” Houlahan said. “A large portion of our community members own guns themselves. That’s why I’m inviting the public to join us for a tough but necessary conversation about the state of gun violence and mental health in our community. The panelists and I will discuss how we can enact meaningful legislation that addresses the root causes of this heartbreaking trend of mass shootings while also respecting responsible gun owners. As always, we will take live questions from community members—I invite everyone to join us.”

Panelists include Fredda Maddox, Chester County sheriff, Erin Buchner, Chapter Lead, Moms Demand Action, George Fiore, executive director of the Chester County Intermediate Unit, and Jennifer Murray, superintendent of the Reading School District.

The Town Hall starts at 6:30 p.m. To view online: www.houlahan.house,gov/live. To phone in: 855-731-4616, and RSVP to https://houlahan.house.gov/forms/form/?ID=54.