U.S. Rep. Linda Sánchez, D-Calif., announced Thursday that she has introduced legislation in Congress to prevent gun violence and assist law enforcement agencies with developing gun buyback programs.

Congresswoman Sánchez unveiled The Firearm Safety and Buyback Grant Act of 2013 (H.R. 793) during a press conference at Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Headquarters alongside Sheriff Lee Baca, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40), Congresswoman Janice Hahn (CA-44), Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, and Montebello Police Chief Kevin McClure.

“For far too long we have watched gun violence shatter the lives of thousands of families every year, and it is time to stand up and protect our children and our communities,” said Congresswoman Linda Sánchez. “It is time to give our law enforcement agencies all the necessary resources to prevent gun violence, and that starts by funding anti-violence campaigns, gun safety campaigns, and firearms buyback programs. Our families deserve to have safe streets and communities. The Firearm Safety and Buyback Grant Act is a positive first step towards getting unwanted guns off the street and preventing gun violence from ripping apart another family.”

The Firearm Safety and Buyback Grant Act of 2013 would give state and local government and law enforcement agencies another tool to help promote gun safety and fund comprehensive anti-violence campaigns. H.R. 793 would establish a grant program within the Department of Justice in which grants would be eligible to state, tribal, and local units of government and law enforcement agencies to carry out anti-violence campaigns, gun safety campaigns, and firearms buyback programs.

“My gun buyback program has been very successful in Los Angeles County. Getting one gun off the street may save a life and that is worth it,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca. “I appreciate Congresswoman Linda Sánchez supporting this program and endeavoring to make our country safer from gun violence.”

“Now is the time for us to act to pass common sense legislation that is necessary to protect our children and families from these repeated patterns of senseless gun violence that has plagued many of our neighborhoods from the streets of Compton and Chicago to the schools and shopping malls in Newtown and Aurora,” said Congresswoman Janice Hahn. “That is why I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this legislation that seeks to reduce gun violence and assist local government and law enforcement agencies by funding and supporting gun buyback programs and other anti-violence initiatives.”

“The tragedy in Newtown, Conn., has made gun violence a hot topic in the national news. However, those of us living in the Los Angeles region know full well this is not a new crisis,” said Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard. “Sadly, many in our communities know only too well the pain and suffering inflicted by guns in the hands of the wrong people. The Firearm Safety and Buyback Grant Act will help to enhance and expand existing efforts that we know work in our communities here at home by providing funding for gun buybacks and anti-violence campaigns.”

“This is responsible gun control legislation that not only takes weapons off the street, that could fall into the hands of criminals, but also provides much needed grant monies directly to law enforcement for the purposes of reducing gun violence in our communities,” said Montebello Police Chief Kevin McClure.