House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) said Thursday that "we need a majority" to pass legislation on gun safety, adding that she would rather get such a bill passed than win in November.
Speaking alongside Democratic Rep. Mike Thompson (Calif.) in the aftermath of Wednesday's school shooting in Florida that left 17 dead, Pelosi said Congress addressed mental health as an aspect of gun safety while she was speaker of the House.
Democrats have expressed frustration with failing to get gun control bills through Congress, even when they held majorities. Now, Republicans control both the House and Senate.
"This is something where we have to have the public really demand—we need a majority to get it done, apparently," Pelosi said. "I wish that weren't the case, and I have said over and over. I'd rather push gun safety legislation than win the election, because people die from this."
"That as a priority for me is one that I have always had, and now of course as a mother and grandmother and seeing these children at risk in a place they should feel very safe is just unthinkable," she added.