CONGRESS MUST PROTECT AMERICANS FROM THE GUN VIOLENCE EPIDEMIC
QUICK READ: America cannot continue as a country where the fear of gun violence makes parents and children afraid to live life to the fullest. The price to our citizens, and especially our children, is much too high. We call on our representatives to take immediate action by passing common-sense, reasonable, gun safety legislation. Refusing to act is no longer an option.
CONTENTS:
BACKGROUND
All Americans, whatever their skin color, zip code or political party, want and deserve communities free of mass shootings and gun violence.
The most recent mass shooting, on Sunday, killed 4 and wounded 28 at a 16-year-old’s birthday party in small-town Alabama—a state with the fifth highest gun violence rate. It was the 18th mass shooting in April, and the 162nd so far this year which caused 5274 deaths and 9561 injuries.
Despite widespread support by Americans of all political persuasions for stricter gun safety laws, MAGA Republicans, at every level, refuse to act.
Instead, MAGA-controlled states are repealing existing gun safety legislation. On April 3, Florida became the 26th state to allow unpermitted conceal/carry, ignoring opposition of 77% of Floridians.
The scale of gun violence is terrifying:
· Many more guns than people
· In 2023, on average, 1+ mass shooting/day and 50 killed/day
· 50+% of US adults witnessed shooting/threatened with gun/injured/killed
· Leading cause of children’s deaths since 2020
· 12,268 already killed in 2023.
President Biden’s taken executive action. Now, Congress must act, considering and forcing votes on pending legislation—banning assault rifles and high-capacity magazines (S.25/HR.698), expanding background checks (S.494 /HR.715), establishing Office of Gun Violence Prevention (S.951/HR.1699), and funding gun violence prevention and research (S.1026/HR.2390)—so Americans know where their MoCs stand. America deserves no less.
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]. Americans are distraught about the gun violence epidemic. Thank you for co-sponsoring S.25 (The Assault Weapons Ban) and S.494 (background check expansion). Please also co-sponsor the two laws establishing an Office of Gun Violence Prevention in the DOJ (S.951) and funding gun violence prevention research (S.1026) and work to get all 4 bills to the floor for a vote. Even if they all don’t pass, Americans need to see that Democrats are working hard to make our communities safer.
*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]. Americans are distraught about the gun violence epidemic. Thank you for co-sponsoring S.25 (The Assault Weapons Ban) and S.494 (background check expansion). Please also co-sponsor the two laws establishing an Office of Gun Violence Prevention in the DOJ (S.951) and funding gun violence prevention research (S.1026) and work to get all 4 bills to the floor for a vote. Even if they all don’t pass, Americans need to see that Democrats are working hard to make our communities safer.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code]. Americans are distraught about the gun violence epidemic. We are tired of, and disgusted with, lawmakers who hide behind platitudes, while blocking common sense gun legislation, and expect to keep their seats. If you don’t actively support and vote for the gun safety measures pending in Congress, I will do everything in my power to vote you out in your next election.
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]. Americans are distraught about the gun violence epidemic. Thank you for co-sponsoring HR.698 (The Assault Weapons Ban) and HR.715 (background check expansion). Please also co-sponsor the two laws establishing an Office of Gun Violence Prevention in the DOJ (HR.1699) and funding gun violence prevention research (HR.2390) and work to get all 4 bills to the floor for a vote. Even if they all don’t pass, Americans need to see that Democrats are working hard to make our communities safer.
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]. Americans are distraught about the gun violence epidemic. We are tired of, and disgusted with, lawmakers who hide behind platitudes, while blocking common sense gun legislation, and expect to keep their seats. If you don’t actively support and vote for the gun safety measures pending in Congress, I will do everything in my power to vote you out in your next election.
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]. Americans are distraught about the gun violence epidemic. Thank you for co-sponsoring HR.698 (The Assault Weapons Ban) and HR.715 (background check expansion). Please also co-sponsor the two laws establishing an Office of Gun Violence Prevention in the DOJ (HR.1699) and funding gun violence prevention research (HR.2390) and work to get all 4 bills to the floor for a vote. Even if they all don’t pass, Americans need to see that Democrats are working hard to make our communities safer.
Script for Val Hoyle (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]. Americans are distraught about the gun violence epidemic. Thank you for co-sponsoring HR.698 (The Assault Weapons Ban) and HR.715 (background check expansion). Please also co-sponsor the two laws establishing an Office of Gun Violence Prevention in the DOJ (HR.1699) and funding gun violence prevention research (HR.2390) and work to get all 4 bills to the floor for a vote. Even if they all don’t pass, Americans need to see that Democrats are working hard to make our communities safer.
Script for Lori Chavez-DeRemer (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]. Americans are distraught about the gun violence epidemic. We are tired of, and disgusted with, lawmakers who hide behind platitudes, while blocking common sense gun legislation, and expect to keep their seats. If you don’t actively support and vote for the gun safety measures pending in Congress, I will do everything in my power to vote you out in your next election.
Script for Andrea Salinas (OR-06)
Salem office: 503-385-0906 | DC office: 202-225-5643
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. Americans are distraught about the gun violence epidemic. Thank you for co-sponsoring HR.698 (The Assault Weapons Ban) and HR.715 (background check expansion). Please also co-sponsor the two laws establishing an Office of Gun Violence Prevention in the DOJ (HR.1699) and funding gun violence prevention research (HR.2390) and work to get all 4 bills to the floor for a vote. Even if they all don’t pass, Americans need to see that Democrats are working hard to make our communities safer.
FURTHER READING
Two in Three Americans Believe the United States Needs Stronger Gun Laws
Alabama birthday party shooting: 4 dead and 28 injured
Two governors, like most Americans, touched by gun violence
Gun Violence Archive
Harvard Youth Poll: 63% of young adults support stricter gun laws -- a majority across all education, race, gender, and urban/suburban/small town divides
There have been more mass shootings than days in 2023, database shows
Americans’ Experiences with Gun-Related Violence, Injuries, And Death
In Congress, little urgency to address gun violence with legislation
