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Hi John,
This past week, I hosted a forum for local leaders and community members to discuss current gun laws, how best to discuss gun violence, how to talk to kids about gun violence, and what actions we can take to keep our community safe.
Data from a 2021 PBS NewsHour poll show that most Missourians agree that we need to put gun safety regulations in place immediately.
Thoughts and prayers aren’t enough. If “Thoughts and Prayers” worked to end gun violence, America would be the safest country on the planet.
Instead, 45,222 people were killed by guns in 2020. To put that in perspective, the capacity of Busch Stadium is 45,494.
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Missourians want to feel safe, but the current gun laws in the state of MO don’t keep us safe. There are no background checks on unlicensed gun sales and no permits required to purchase rifles, shotguns, or handguns.
You don’t need a permit for concealed carry if you’re over 19 years of age, and there is no prohibition against a domestic abuser owning or purchasing a firearm.
In Missouri, we have the 4th highest death rate by guns; 1,222 people killed on average each year! This costs our state $10 billion and taxpayers $507 million. According to a CDC report, 670 firearm deaths between 2010-2019 in Missouri were by suicide, which is the highest in our rural communities.
We can prevent senseless and tragic loss by ensuring children, those who struggle with mental health issues, and domestic abusers do not have easy access to deadly weapons.
Let’s be clear: I don’t want to infringe on your 2nd Amendment right to own a gun safely, but there are plenty of unpopular loopholes in our gun laws that should be immediately addressed. We know that closing them WILL save lives.
As you have conversations with people about gun violence prevention, I wanted to share some language that will win more support for policies to make our communities safer.
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Gun violence prevention is a winning issue in Missouri, but we need people like you to continue having meaningful conversations with your friends, family, and neighbors.
I'm proud to have completed Moms Demand Action’ s gun safety course for candidates and earned the Gun Sense Candidate Distinction for my commitment to ending gun violence.
Our campaign isn’t afraid to fully dive into this topic or other “hot button issues” to find solutions we can all agree on -- I’m a dad who just wants to keep my kid and yours safe.
It’s as simple as that.
More soon,
Spencer
Spencer Toder is a lifelong Missourian dedicated to prioritizing people above politics. Spencer believes in accountability and transparency, investing in our future, and a government that works for all of us.
CNN calls this OPEN Senate seat likely to flip but noted it would take more than money. Mitch McConnell agrees: we’ll be in trouble if we don’t run the candidate voters know and trust.
That’s why we’re helping Missourians at any chance we can before Spencer’s even elected
Will you pitch in $5, $25, or any amount you can now to fund our on-the-ground efforts to build powerful connections with Missourians?
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