165 Families and Survivors Directly Impacted by Gun Violence Urge the Senate to Confirm Merrick Garland as U.S. AttorneyGeneral

For Immediate Release

February 24, 2021

 

Press Contact:

John Kelley

917-679-6475

jkelley@newtownaction.org

165 Families and Survivors Directly Impacted by Gun Violence Urge the Senate 

to Confirm Merrick Garland as U.S. Attorney General  

Newtown, CT – The following letter, signed by 165 families and survivors who are directly impacted by gun violence, was sent today to Senators to urge them to confirm Merrick Garland as U.S. Attorney General. 

Dear Senators: 

We are families and survivors who have been directly impacted by gun violence in our nation. We are writing to urge you to confirm Judge Merrick Garland, President Joe Biden’s nominee for Attorney General, to lead the U.S. Department of Justice. 

The next U.S. Attorney General will be tasked with addressing many crises in our nation, including gun violence, the rise of violent domestic terrorism and police violence. 

●      Gun sales have surged, with a significant spike in gun deaths and injuries during the pandemic. Homicides have increased by double digits in more than a dozen major cities in 2020. Childhood deaths have risen by 40 percent in 2020 and teenage deaths are up by 37 percent. This past year, the United States experienced 612 mass shootings, a 47 percent increase from 2019. Numerous data points indicate that suicides are on the rise across the country as a growing number of Americans are taking their lives amidst the economic and social distress of Covid-19. 

●      A string of mass shooting incidents in El Paso, Texas; Gilroy, California; and Dayton, Ohio brought the threat of domestic terrorism into focus in 2019. According to the Homeland Threat Assessment released in October 2020, “Ideologically motivated lone offenders and small groups pose the most likely terrorist threat to the Homeland, with Domestic Violent Extremists presenting the most persistent and lethal threat.” On January 6, 2021, we witnessed the violent insurrection in the U.S. Capitol. Shortly after the insurrection, the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security issued a National Terrorism Advisory System(NTAS) Bulletin due to “ideologically-motivated violent extremists with objections to the exercise of governmental authority and the presidential transition, as well as other perceived grievances fueled by false narratives, could continue to mobilize to incite or commit violence.” 

●      Recent incidents that took the lives of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Rayshard Brooks shed a light on America’s history of police violence. There is a call from the gun violence prevention community to acknowledge that black lives matter and police violence is gun violence. We are pushing for anti-racist public health approaches to be prioritized with community-based policing and investments in community-based solutions to end gun violence. 

Judge Garland has been lauded for his flawless and inspiring work as the leading federal prosecutor in the Oklahoma City bombing case after a domestic terrorist killed 168 people ,including 19 children, in 1995. He brought everyone to the table, including the families, survivors, and the first responders who were most impacted by the bombing. Throughout his career, Judge Garland has demonstrated his commitment to civil rights. In his recent acceptance speech when nominated by President Biden for Attorney General, he expressed that one of his top priorities will be “ensuring racial equity”. 

Today, there is a call for stronger enforcement of our gun laws. More than 260 people who have been arrested and charged for crimes related to the January 6th insurrection must be prosecuted, and police reform is necessary. Judge Garland’s expertise, knowledge, and history of fairly and swiftly prosecuting domestic terrorists and white extremists makes him uniquely qualified to lead the Department of Justice. 

In 1997, Merrick Garland was confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate with a 76–23 vote for the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia seat and he has served as a Chief Judge since 2013. The Department of Justice plays a significant role in enforcing the nation’s gun laws. Judge Garland, with his extensive knowledge of the Second Amendment, will ensure that the DOJ has the tools necessary to do its job and help to end the gun violence crisis in America. 

 

We are still angry and disappointed that Judge Garland was not confirmed to replace Justice Antonin Scalia for the Supreme Court of the United States in 2016 due to political gamesmanship. We urge all Senators to choose their country over party and confirm Merrick Garland as our next Attorney General. We are confident that he will bring the families and the survivors who are most impacted by gun violence, domestic terrorism, and police violence to the table to make our nation safer and restore justice to the Justice Department.  

Thank you for your consideration. 

Sincerely,

Families and survivors directly impacted by gun violence

Megan Ackerman, Los Angeles, California                                 

Elizabeth Adams, Gulf Breeze, Florida                            

Katherine Aker, Tujunga, California                                  

Mayra and Daniel Alvear, Orlando, Florida                                 

Miyoshia Bailey, Chicago, Illinois                          

Sharon Baker, Goshen, Indiana                            

Michelle Barnes-Anderson, Brooklyn, New York                                    

Teche Bergeron, Las Vegas, Nevada                              

Terri Betz, Sutherlin, Oregon                                 

Stephanie Bishop, Atlanta, Georgia                                 

Michael Bishop, Pine Mountain, Georgia                        

Jeri Bishop, Pine Mountain, Georgia                                

Paul Bocanegra, San Jose, California                             

Susan Bolle, Tiburon, California                            

Tika Bordelon, Seattle, Washington                                 

Shaundelle Brooks, Naahville, Texas                              

Susan Browder, Gainesville, Florida                                

Stephanie Brown, Chicago, Illinois                                   

Linda Brundage, East Lansing, Michigan                                    

Amy Bruner, Cedar Rapids, Iowa                         

Valerie Burgest, Chicago, Illinois                          

Milagros Burgos, Chicago, Illinois                         

Rafael Burgos, Chicago, Illinois                            

Julie Butcher, La Crescenta, California                            

Barbara Campbell, Newtown, Connecticut                                  

Tom Campbell, Danbury, Connecticut                             

Janice Cannon, Chicago, Illinois                           

Keren Carter, Concord, California                         

Shirley Carter, Dallas, Texas                                 

Monica Cassaberry, Brooklyn, New York                        

Heather Chapman, Parkland, Florida                               

Lauren Child, South Pasadena, California                                  

David Christman, Athens, Georgia                                   

James A Clark Jr, Colorado Springs, Colorado                          

Patrice Collins, New Haven, Connecticut                        

Nicole Cook, Parkland, Florida                              

Michele Cooper, San Diego, California                            

Yvonne Crasso, Middletown, Connecticut                                   

Marie Curtis, Oakhurst, New Jersey                                 

Deborah Davis, Hartford, Connecticut                             

Marina Delgado, San Pedro, California                           

Judith DeNunzio, Beech Mountain, North Carolina                               

Carolyn Dixon, South Jamaica, Queens, New York                              

doreen dodgen-magee, Tualatin, Oregon                                   

Tara Donnelly, Easton, Connecticut                                 

Jane Dougherty, Littleton, Colorado                                 

Brad Dupee, Boulder, Colorado                            

Annika Dworet, Coral Springs, Florida                             

Mitchell Dworet , Coral Springs, Florida                           

Christine Evans, San Diego, California                            

Gail Finney, Davis, California                                

Kathleen Florence, Oak lawn, Illinois                               

Adam Friedman, Washington, District of Columbia                               

Mary Fryer, San Francisco, California                              

Randy Gardner, South Pasadena, California                              

Kim Gatbunton, Lakewood, Washington                         

Gerald F. Gaudin, Metarie, Louisiana                              

Carol Gaxiola, SAHUARITA, Arizona                               

Wayne Gilbert, Tiburon, California                                    

Jordan Gomes, Sandy Hook, Connecticut                                  

Roxanna Green, Tucson, Arizona                        

Shanequa Griffin, New York, New York                           

Shirell Gross, North Hollywood, California                                  

Fred Guttenberg, Parkland, Florida                                  

Holly Hall, Temecula, California                            

Archer Heinzen, Alexandria, Virginia                                

Pamela Hight, New York, New York                                 

Gerry Hills, Phoenix, Arizona                                 

Rebecca Hindman, Santa Clarita, California                              

Dr Robert Hofland, PhD, Torrance, California                            

Kelley Ireland, Tucson, Arizona                             

Kinnon John, San Leandro, California                             

dolene john, Brooklyn, New York                          

Rachael Joseph, Minneapolis, Minnesota                                   

Nadine Joseph, Brooklyn, New York                                

Joshua Kadish, Reseda, California                                  

Paul Kaneko, Santa Cruz, California                                

Alyssa Kilpatrick, Sierra Madre, California                                  

Bill Kingston, New Castle, New Hampshire                                 

Carolee Koehn, Lakewood, Colorado                              

Kerry Kraemer, Lockport, Illinois                           

Pamela Lane, Fortuna, California                         

Honora Laszlo, Arlington, Virginia                                    

Edward Laurson, Denver, Colorado                                 

Jenn Lawlor, Bethel, Connecticut                         

Tom Lawlor, Bethel, Connecticut                          

Lisa Litberg, Morton Grove, Illinois                                   

Mia Livas Porter, Los Angeles, California                                    

Don Lococo, Newtown, Connecticut                                

Mary Long, Chicago, Illinois                                   

Kim Lutz, Glen Ellyn, Illinois                                   

Jacinda Maatu, Bridgeport, Connecticut                          

Sara Macaluso, Los Angeles, California                          

Ann Madsen, Lynnwood, Washington                             

Patricia Maisch, Tucson, Arizona                          

Denise Marks, Valencia, Pennsylvania                            

Veronica Maul, Crowley, Texas                             

Marcel McClinton, Houston, Texas                                   

Kimberly McFadden, Mundelein, Illinois                          

Christine Miller, Sandy Hook, Connecticut                                  

Dionne Miller, Sauk Village, Illinois                                   

Brenda Mitchell, University Park, Illinois                          

Cindy Montoya, Los Angeles, California                          

Sydney Montstream-Quas, Barrington, Rhode Island                           

Giselle Morch, Silver Spring, Maryland                            

Jenny Morgan, Grand Prairie, Texas                               

Peter Murchison, Ridgefield, Connecticut                                   

David O'Connor, Shoreline, Washington                                     

Manuel Oliver, Parkland, Florida                           

Corey E. Olsen, Delafield, Wisconsin                               

Rick & Martha Omilian, Plainwell, Michigan                                

Gregory Orfalea, Washington, District of Columbia                               

Marc Orfanos, Thousand Oaks, California                                  

Tymaeus Orfanos, Thousand Oaks, California                          

Patricia Padauy, Parkland, Florida                                   

Deborah Parker, Tucson, Arizona                        

Natalie Pavia, Thousand Oaks, California                                   

Nicholas Payne, New Milford, Connecticut                                 

Joan Peterson, Cloquet, Minnesota                                 

Sandy Phillips, Boerne, Texas                               

Lonnie Phillips, Boerne, Texas                              

Maria Pike, Chicago, Illinois                                   

Chip Pryde, Flat Rock, North Carolina                             

Mary Reed, Tucson, Arizona                                 

Judi Richardson, South Portland, Maine                         

Wayne Richardson, South Portland, Maine                                

Madison Roeschke, Santa Clarita, California                             

Rosa Rosenberg, Los Angeles, California                                  

Kelly Rotella, St Charles, Illinois                           

Liz Russell, Napa, California                                  

Elizabeth Saint, Stratford, Connecticut                            

April Schentrup, Seattle, Washington                              

Susan Schmidt-Orfanos, Thousand Oaks, California                            

Judy Schneider-Wallace, Everett, Washington                          

Gail Schwartz, Parkland, Florida                           

Tangela Sears, Miami, Florida                              

Clare Senchyna, San Francisco, California                                

Ruth Senchyna, Albany, New York                                   

Jessica Sewell, Stockton, California                                 

Pam Simon, Tucson, Arizona                                

Kristin Song, Guilford, Connecticut                                   

Manjula Stokes, Santa Cruz, California                           

Gladys T, Bolingbrook, Illinois                               

Cathy Taylor, Midlothian, Texas                            

Sheena Tucker, Queens, New York                                 

Carolyn Tuft, Salt Lake City, Utah                         

Lenie Urbina, Sandy Hook, Connecticut                          

Michele Voigt, Greenwich, Connecticut                           

Gail Warek, Sandy Hook, Connecticut                             

Leslie Washington, Cape Girardeau, Missouri                           

Bethany Webb, Huntington Beach, California                            

Angela Weber, Coral Springs, Florida                              

Jan Weisel, Woodinville, Washington                              

Jane Weiss, Snohomish, Washington                             

Stephanie Wells, Carlsbad, California                              

Wendy Wheatcroft, San Diego, California                                   

Brenda Whitney, Laguna Niguel, California                                

Larriccia Wiley, Dallas, Texas                               

Elsie Wilkens, St Louis, Missouri                          

Anita Wills, San Leandro, California                                 

María José Wright, Miami, Florida                        

Frederick Wright, Miami, Florida                           

Abbie Youkilis, Cincinnati, Ohio                            

Missy Zeitsoff, Santa Barbara, California”                       

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Newtown Action Alliance (http://alliance.newtownaction.org/) is a Newtown-based, national grassroots organization formed after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings. Our mission is to achieve the steady and continuous reduction of gun violence through legislative and cultural changes.

 

Press ReleasePo Murray2021