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Our goal with the MassDems Wire is to give you the tools to boost Democrats and take on Baker and his Republican allies. Use these talking points on social media, as the basis for a letter to the editor of your local paper, in emails to your personal network, or in conversations with your friends and neighbors.
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Black Lives Matter. The news of the past week underscores the need for action to address police violence and brutality--and the institutional racism and bias that persists in our law enforcement and criminal justice system. The right to move freely and safely through our communities should be universal, and as long as Black lives are threatened by those sworn to protect them, we, as a society, have failed. Our thoughts are with the family, friends, and loved ones of Daunte Wright, and we stand with the activists and allies calling for justice and accountability.
Dismantling institutional discrimination will take a conciously anti-racist effort, especially from those who’ve benefited from bias. View anti-racism resources at massdems.org/black-lives-matter/.
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April 14, 2021
Failed Massachusetts Republican Candidates Try to Overturn Results of Free and Fair Election
President Biden’s Initial Actions to Reduce Gun Violence
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Failed Massachusetts Republican Candidates Try to Overturn Results of Free and Fair Election
Failed Massachusetts Republican candidates filed a lawsuit to overturn the results of the 2020 election and ban the use of no-excuse mail-in balloting and early voting in Massachusetts.
- The 2020 election was free and fair. The lawsuit filed by failed Republican candidates to disenfranchise millions of Bay Staters won’t change the fact that voters overwhelmingly chose Democrats at the polls.
- Republicans already lost in federal court, but they’re wasting taxpayer dollars debating the same issue.
- Republicans only raised objections to the mail-in and early voting system after they lost their elections in an effort to reverse the results.
- Republican attempts to ban widespread mail-in and early voting are attempts at voter suppression, plain and simple.
- Voters elect Democrats because they have better ideas, but rather than revisit their out-of-touch platform, Republicans are trying to make it harder for people to vote.
- This is part of a national Republican push to restrict voting rights across the country.
- Voting by mail and voting early is easy, safe, and secure--essential to preserving one of our most fundamental rights during the pandemic.
- There is nothing illegal or fraudulent about voting by mail. Numerous studies have shown that all types of voter fraud in the U.S. are extremely rare.
- Expanded voting options led to record breaking voter turnout, and Republicans know when more people vote, Democrats win.
- While Republicans attempt to overturn the will of the people and restrict voting options, Democrats are working to make things like early voting and vote by mail permanent.
- Speaker Ron Mariano issued a statement that said, “The House looks forward to making vote by mail a permanent way for residents to exercise their right to vote during and beyond the pandemic.”
- The same day, Secretary of State William Galvin urged Congress to pass a law guaranteeing voters ability to vote by mail in federal elections.
President Biden’s Initial Actions to Reduce Gun Violence
Last week, President Biden outlined a series of initial steps to address the epidemic of gun violence, take on the NRA, and make our communities safe.
- President Biden has been dedicated to addressing our country’s epidemic of gun violence throughout his entire career. He has taken on and beaten the NRA twice, and we can do it again.
- But he won’t wait to take action that saves lives and make our communities safer – because tackling gun violence is one of his highest priorities.
- Even when they don’t make the headlines, senseless gun tragedies take lives every day and leave lasting trauma in communities, especially communities of color. And recent high-profile mass shootings underscore the relentless nature of this epidemic.
- The president is committed to taking action to reduce all forms of gun violence – community violence, mass shootings, domestic violence, and suicide by firearm.
- The Biden-Harris Administration announced the following six initial actions:
- The Justice Department, within 30 days, will issue a proposed rule to help stop the proliferation of “ghost guns.”
- The Justice Department, within 60 days, will issue a proposed rule to make clear that devices marketed as a stabilizing brace are subject to the National Firearms Act.
- The Justice Department, within 60 days, will publish model “red flag” legislation for states.
- The Justice Department will issue an annual report on firearms trafficking.
- The administration is investing in substantive evidence-based community violence interventions – proven strategies for reducing gun violence in urban communities.
- President Biden will nominate David Chipman to serve as Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
- From leading the fight in Congress to pass commonsense gun safety laws to spearheading the gun violence prevention task force in the wake of Sandy Hook, these actions build upon President Biden’s longstanding commitment and record.
- President Biden also continues to reiterate his calls for Congress to swiftly pass commonsense legislation to reduce gun violence supported by an overwhelming majority of the American people.
- Americans across the country agree that we need to take action to reduce gun violence, make our communities safer, and save lives. President Biden and his administration will continue doing everything in his power to address this public health epidemic.
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We encourage you to share these talking points with your networks online and offline. Questions about the information outlined above and about the MassDems Wire program may be directed at our Communications Director, Allison Mitchell.
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