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John,
Today, we honor the victims and remember the 17 lives lost in the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School just 3 years ago.
I wish I could say we have done enough to honor their memories. Unfortunately, even after witnessing the tragedy at Parkland, not enough has changed to curb gun violence in this country. Despite the massive efforts by students, activists, and movements like March for Our Lives, GOP members of Congress have stood in the way of common sense gun legislation at every step.
That inaction resulted in 2020 being the deadliest year for gun violence in the past two decades.
While the coronavirus pandemic was dominating the news cycle, the ongoing gun violence pandemic claimed over 43,495 lives last year.
Make no mistake, John: This violence is preventable. These deaths were preventable. And future gun violence is preventable -- if we take steps to pass gun safety laws.
That's why last month I re-introduced The Gun Violence Prevention Research Act, which provides $250 million in funding over 5 years for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to research gun violence as the public health threat that it is. And just this last week, I introduced a package of 5 gun safety reforms to expand background checks, counter gun trafficking, promote new technology, and make straw purchases -- like the one Kenosha shooter Kyle Rittenhouse used to obtain a gun -- a felony.
I'm ready to do whatever it takes to curb gun violence and save lives, but I need everyone in this fight with us, John. Sign the petition right now and show your support for stricter gun laws.
Gun violence is an epidemic -- and must be recognized, treated, and researched as such.
Passing The Gun Violence Prevention Research Act is a critical step into understanding more about gun violence, and consequently, learning the best way to prevent and stop it altogether.
Throughout my time in Congress, I've made gun control and gun violence prevention a priority. From passing the Assault Weapons Ban in 1994, to introducing the Gun Trafficking Prevention Act of 2013, to advocating for stronger background checks for decades, I have never stopped striving to make our country a safer and less violent place.
But all we've done is continue to mourn countless tragedies and send thoughts and prayers to the loved ones of gun violence victims.
If we, as a nation, cannot recognize the deep and deadly threat that gun violence poses to everyone, including our children, we will never be able to create a country where every single person can feel safe.
Lives are on the line, and if we don't act now, the number of friends, family, and loved ones lost to gun violence will only continue to rise. Click here to sign the petition and demand stricter gun laws in Congress.
Thank you,
Carolyn
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