We need comprehensive gun control
Unfortunately, gun legislation provides a view of American “democracy” in crisis.
QUICK READ: The response in Congress to recent mass shootings has been as expected - Dems offering solutions and Republicans are pandering to the NRA. Since Senate Republicans control the legislative kill switch, what’s likely to emerge is a bill addressing mental health and fortifying schools. But a majority in this democracy want more: rational gun control.
TAKE ACTION NOW:
BACKGROUND
The House, which represents American communities, passed a bill the majority of Americans want, including setting the legal purchase-age at 21 for some weapons, a ban on high-capacity magazines, safe storage and other measures.
The Senate, which represents states, has negotiated a bill that the NRA and its clones want. None of the House measures are included but, as the NRA wants, there is an emphasis on mental health and fortifying schools.
Senate Republicans, even as a minority in the chamber, control the kill switch on all legislation. So the gun bill likely to be sent to President Biden will look like the Senate’s version.
If well-targeted and fully funded, the Senate’s approach may moderate the nation’s child mental health crisis and, if lucky, help reduce the risk that children will become active shooters.
The Senate bill also does nothing to address the motivation of the man who blew apart ten people shopping in a Buffalo grocery store.
He was motivated by the lie that the votes of white men were being replaced by immigrants indebted to Democrats. It was a theme repeated again and again by Republicans after the Buffalo shooting.
As we fight for rational gun control, we also need to protect the truth which will save lives as well.
ACTION One: Call the Senate.
Script for Oregon Senators
SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753
My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
We need rational gun control, but we also need to protect the truth which will save lives as well. Please speak the truth loudly to counter lies told by Republican Members of Congress who are beholden to the NRA.
SEN. WYDEN:
Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
We need rational gun control, but we also need to protect the truth which will save lives as well. Please speak the truth loudly to counter lies told by Republican Members of Congress who are beholden to the NRA.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
The majority of Americans want rational gun control, but you put what the NRA wants above people’s lives. Please consider the terror, damage and death that you have been protecting, then change your position to protect lives instead of gun profits.
ACTION TWO: Call the House.
Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
We need rational gun control, but we also need to protect the truth which will save lives as well. Please speak the truth loudly to counter lies told by Republican Members of Congress who are beholden to the NRA.
Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)
Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
The majority of Americans want rational gun control, but you put what the NRA wants above people’s lives. Please consider the terror, damage and death that you have been protecting, then change your position to protect lives instead of gun profits.
Script for Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)
Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
We need rational gun control, but we also need to protect the truth which will save lives as well. Please speak the truth loudly to counter lies told by Republican Members of Congress who are beholden to the NRA.
Script for Peter DeFazio (OR-04)
Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
We need rational gun control, but we also need to protect the truth which will save lives as well. Please speak the truth loudly to counter lies told by Republican Members of Congress who are beholden to the NRA.
Script for Kurt Schrader (OR-05)
Salem office: 503-588-9100 | DC office: 202-225-5711
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
We need rational gun control, but we also need to protect the truth which will save lives as well. Please speak the truth loudly to counter lies told by Republican Members of Congress who are beholden to the NRA.
ACTION 3: GOOD TROUBLE
GOOD TROUBLE: Below are opportunities to fight for our democracy. As John Lewis said, go make some “good trouble.”
Watch the January 6 Committee's televised hearings.
TUESDAY 11:30am-12:30pm LETTER WRITING PARTY - INDIVISIBLE OREGON:
https://www.mobilize.us/swingleft/event/442887/Fridays at 4 - Letter and Postcard Writing — Indivisible Oregon.
Learn about persuasive language and communication research at the Zoom ASO Movement Briefings every second Wednesday.
Join the campaign to hold the House and Senate at GiveNoGround.org
Demand that your primary news source stop creating false equivalencies and just report the truth.
Check out the Poor People's Campaign Readies 'Massive, Nonviolent' Effort to Save Democracy
Outside of Portland? Check out COIN Oregon.
Rally inconsisent Democratic voters to vote in 2022 with Progressive Turnout Project | Feb, 2022 | Medium
FURTHER READING:
The Science Is Clear: Gun Control Saves Lives - Scientific American
We’ve Known How To Prevent A School Shooting for More Than 20 Years | FiveThirtyEight
‘It’s Life or Death’: The Mental Health Crisis Among U.S. Teens - The New York Times
Solutions | Everytown | Everytown
Mass Shootings Are Fraction of Child Gun Deaths in the U.S. | Time
