House lawmakers have called U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch to meet them for a meeting on discussing plans to stop gun violence in minority communities.

In a letter addressed to Lynch on Oct. 21, 41 House Democrats wrote about gun violence, and claimed the congressional Republican leadership has blocked consideration for "common sense" legislation. As a result, dozens of House Democrats requested a meeting "to discuss alternative approaches to this grave national challenge."

"Republican leadership has shamefully refused to answer the call to act to prevent senseless tragedies like the recent shootings in Oregon and South Carolina," said Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., in a statement. "But there is still much that can be done to address the scourge of gun violence, especially in communities of color -- including enforcement efforts aimed at the relatively small number of irresponsible gun dealers who sell the vast majority of the guns used in criminal activity."

The letter, which included the signatures of several members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus such as California Reps. Lucille Roybal-Allard and Tony Cárdenas and Illinois Rep. Luis Gutiérrez, acknowledged that Latinos and African Americans are disproportionately likely to become victims of gun-related crimes than white. The lawmakers also noted that many acts of gun violence have gone unnoticed by the national media.

The Obama administration, as well as local and state partners, should identify new efforts to reduce gun-related crimes, according to the letter. Further, House Democrats said new policies can be implemented "without the need for legislative action."

"In Chicago, we seem to lose a whole classroom full of children every week to gun violence with forty and fifty shootings in a weekend," wrote Gutierrez in a statement. "The help has to come from the federal level because whatever we do in Chicago, guns are coming from Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa and other places outside the city. Our communities need action now."

The 41 Democrats encouraged Lynch's department to consider improved enforcement efforts that would target the "relatively small number of dishonest dealers" selling firearms.

"We hope that Attorney General Lynch will work with us to find ways to combat the epidemic of gun violence that disproportionately plagues minority communities across the country," said Gallego.

Letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch:

Must Read: Rep. Joaquin Castro's Bill Strikes 'Alien' Immigrant From Federal Law

__

For the latest updates, follow Latin Post's Politics Editor Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO or contact via email: m.oleaga@latinpost.com.

Related