Dear Friend,

The data speaks for itself—our nation is plagued by an epidemic of gun violence that kills over 40,000 people each year and is the leading cause of death for children in America. This is an issue that hits close to home, too: Five years ago, a shooting at Henry Pratt in Aurora took five innocent lives and injured six police officers. Sixteen years ago, one of my first official acts as a Congressman was to attend memorial services for the victims of the NIU shootings in DeKalb. 

No one should have to worry about random gun violence while going about their normal lives, and we cannot accept this as a new reality. Congress has a moral obligation to act, and with June being National Gun Violence Awareness Month, I wanted to reach out and let you know what I’m doing to address gun violence in our communities.

Two years ago, President Biden signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act into law after nearly three decades of Congressional gridlock on gun safety reforms. I was proud to support this vital legislation, which included many desperately needed reforms, from enhanced background checks on people under the age of 21 to increased penalties for illegal gun traffickers.

Despite this progress, more action is needed to confront the crisis. Getting weapons of war off our streets is central to this mission. We know that the Assault Weapons Ban previously worked to save lives—and that’s why I’ve consistently supported renewing the ban on military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines. In Congress, I’ve also been proud to cosponsor legislation to close dangerous loopholes, expand background checks, and require gun owners to safely and securely store their firearms.

Too many families across the country have lost a loved one to gun violence. We must all work together to save lives and build a safer nation for all Americans – and I’m proud to continue that work on your behalf in Congress. 

Sincerely,

Bill Foster
Member of Congress