AN OPEN LETTER TO ALL ELECTED LEADERS IN AMERICA
For Immediate Release
October 6, 2017
Press Contact:
Victoria Coy
States United to Prevent Gun Violence
victoria@ceasefireusa.org
Po Murray
Newtown Action Alliance
pmurray@newtownaction.org
AN OPEN LETTER TO ALL ELECTED LEADERS IN AMERICA
A COALITION OF GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION GROUPS AND ALLIES RESPOND TO THE DEADLIEST MASS SHOOTING IN MODERN AMERICAN HISTORY AND DEMANDS ACTION ON GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION
October 6, 2017
Dear Elected Leaders in America,
On Monday, we woke up to the largest mass shooting in modern American history. This demands the greatest response in American history. First, we send thoughts and prayers to the families of those slain and injured. We send thanks to the emergency, law enforcement, and medical personnel, who rushed to save lives. And we thank so many in Las Vegas who helped with blood donations, food, water and comfort to those affected by this horrifying tragedy.
But now is the time to take action to honor those lives and prevent such events from occurring again. We must #DemandAction and #EndGunViolence.
We demand that American leaders, from the halls of Congress to town council chambers, do everything in their power to ensure that Americans live in communities free from the fear of mass shootings and the everyday carnage that gun violence causes.
Right now, Congress is considering two bills that will make us less safe from gun violence. They should drop these bills permanently. H.R. 3668, the Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act removes common-sense restrictions on firearm silencers that have protected public safety for the past 80 years. H.R. 38, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, forces states to recognize all concealed carry weapons permits, despite very lax permitting requirements of many states.
Instead we ask Congress and States to pass meaningful legislation and smart policies that we know will help prevent mass shootings, such as:
- Background checks for sale of all guns;
- Ban assault weapons and high capacity magazines;
- Repeal of legal shield for the gun industry;
- Adequate funding of federal gun violence research
We owe it to the victims and families affected by this terrible mass shooting to fight for laws we know will be effective. We must honor them with action and keep pushing until we make real and meaningful change in our nation’s gun laws.
Sincerely,
Amnesty International USA
Arizonans for Gun Safety
AVAAZ
Battle Born Progress in Nevada
Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence united with Million Mom March
Brave New Films
Ceasefire Oregon
CeaseFire Pennsylvania
Children’s Firearm Safety Alliance
Cities United
Coalition to Stop Gun Violence
Colorado Ceasefire
Community Justice Reform Coalition
Connecticut Against Gun Violence
Concert Across America to End Gun Violence
CREDO
Delaware Coalition Against Gun Violence
Disciples Home Missions
Doctors for America
Florida Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence
Franciscan Action Network
Gays Against Guns
Georgia Alliance for Social Justice
Global Exchange
Grandmothers Against Gun Violence – Cape Cod
Grandparents Against Gun Violence MO
Greenwich Council Against Gun Violence
GunControlToday
Gun Violence Prevention PAC
Hawaii Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence
Healing 4 Our Families & Our Nation
Heeding God’s Call to End Gun Violence
Hoosiers Concerned About Gun Violence
Human Rights Campaign
Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence
Jessi’s Message
Joint Action Committee
Louisiana Violence Reduction Coalition
Maine Gun Safety Coalition
March For Racial Justice (M4RJNow)
Marylanders to Prevent Gun Violence
Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence
Michigan Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence
Million Hoodies Movement for Justice
MomsRising
MoveOn.org Civic Action
National Action Network
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
National Council of Jewish Women
National Domestic Violence Hotline
National Network to End Domestic Violence
National Organization for Women (NOW)
New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence
New Yorkers Against Gun Violence
Newtown Action Alliance
North Carolinians Against Gun Violence
Northwest Corner Committee for Gun Violence Prevention (Ct.)
Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence
One Pulse for America
Organizing for Action
PICO Live Free Campaign
Pride Fund to End Gun Violence
Progress Michigan
Progressive Change Campaign Committee
Progressive Congress Action Fund
Protect Minnesota
Rabbis Against Gun Violence
Remembering Darian
Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence
Safe Campus Colorado
Safe Tennessee Project
States United to Prevent Gun Violence
Stop Handgun Violence
Survivors Empowered
Team 26
The Campaign to Keep Guns off Campus
The Faith Community of St. Sabina
The Gun Violence Prevention Center of Utah
The Virginia Center for Public Safety
UltraViolet Action
Union for Reform Judaism
Upper East Side for Change
Virginia Gun Violence Prevention Coalition
Vision Quilt
Washington Ceasefire
WAVE Educational Fund
Women Against Gun Violence
Women’s March