Friend,

I am here in Texas, and my heart is broken- again.

Last week in Buffalo we lost grandmothers and elders. Last night in Uvalde, Texas we lost children and educators. Our children and elderly look to us to keep them safe and without action, we fail them. We cannot afford to sit by and become numb to gun violence happening in our communities.

Children in Uvalde woke up yesterday with the expectation of going to school, getting an education, and going home to their families. Instead, a gunman opened fire killing 19 children and two teachers, forever robbing them of their future.

Yesterday lives were lost. Today, we have an opportunity to have a different outcome. More lives will be taken and more families will be left to grieve, if we do not dismantle the conditions that perpetuate gun violence. The response to the mass shootings, in Buffalo and Uvalde, amplify the fears of our communities and confirms the injustices experienced by people of color.

While this crisis of gun violence is not new, this moment must be different. The urgency and the outrage must be turned into action. Join me in taking action today!

What you can do at the federal level:

• Call your Senator and ask them to support the following:
  • Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act (H.R. 350) - This bill would establish offices at the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice and FBI to focus on monitoring, investigating and prosecuting cases of domestic terrorism. This would prevent domestic hate crimes incidents, like the tragic mass shooting in Buffalo which left 10 black individuals dead at a local supermarket. 
  • Confirm Steven Dettelbach to be Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) - This role hasn’t had a Senate-confirmed director since 2015, and it is crucial to enforcing current federal gun laws and keeping communities safe. 
  • Bipartisan Background Checks Act (H.R. 8) and Enhanced Background Checks Act (H.R. 1446)  - H.R. 8 would require background checks for all gun sales and H.R. 1446 would extend the initial background check review period from 3 days to 10 days. These essential pieces of legislation are supported by more than 90% of Americans. 
  • Break the Cycle of Violence Act - This bill would invest $6.5 billion in community violence intervention and strategic workforce programs that are proven to save lives. 

What you can do at the state level:

Our communities are hurting right now and they are counting on supporters like you to keep moving forward and to have hope for ending gun violence. 

Our kids, our grandparents, and our communities are worth it.  

Thank you for your continued support, and as always if there is anything you are working on that we can help out with please let me know.

In peace,

Kim Gutierrez, 

Senior Manager of Organizing & Partnerships

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