 Friend – Last week, I took to the Senate floor to ask: When will we say enough? 21 victims in Uvalde, Texas. 17 killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. 20 dead in Newtown, Connecticut. 12 students murdered at Columbine. The list gets longer every year. Gun violence continues to kill our children every single day, and we cannot wait any longer to act. I'm heartened by the efforts of my colleagues Senator Murphy and Senator Cornyn to put forward a bipartisan agreement on gun violence – the first in decades. We must get this done now for the American people. This commonsense deal takes up key elements of my bipartisan straw purchasing bill, as well as additional practical measures to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals. To start, the agreement would allocate significant funding to support states in enacting red flag laws, which will allow folks' loved ones or the police to prevent individuals from accessing or purchasing firearms. Additionally, the framework of the agreement will provide billions in funding for mental health and school safety – including a national build-out of community mental health clinics. Significantly, it would prevent anyone convicted of domestic abuse from purchasing a firearm and enhance background check requirements for those under 21. Alone, this agreement will not be sufficient to end our nation's epidemic of gun violence. But it is a heartening step forward, and I do believe that these commonsense policy measures will help save lives. Now, we must get this legislation drafted post-haste, passed through both chambers, and onto President Biden's desk to sign. Let's collectively say: Enough is enough. Add your name right now to join me in supporting this bipartisan agreement on gun violence. Sincerely, Patrick Leahy
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