John–
I have some great news: The U.S. Senate just passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act!
This is the first major piece of gun violence prevention legislation the Senate has passed in over 25 years. This legislation will help save lives in communities across the country—the U.S. House just needs to pass it, and President Biden will be able to sign it into law.
Make no mistake: Your persistence in this work made this moment possible.
Before I get into the details of the bill, I want to take a moment to reflect on how we got to this historic moment, and how much has changed since I founded Moms Demand Action almost a decade ago.
When I started Moms Demand Action in 2012 in response to the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, gun safety was a third-rail issue. Almost no one would touch it, with many lawmakers choosing inaction because they were afraid of the NRA.
But over the past 10 years, we changed that. Time and time again, we went toe to toe with the gun lobby in state houses, city halls, and Congress. We passed lifesaving laws in dozens of states while facing opposition, threats, and federal inaction.
We demanded action from our elected officials, and when they failed us, we worked to hold them accountable.
And after the tragedies in Uvalde and Buffalo, we quickly came together for thousands of petition drops, rallies, in-district visits, and letters to the editor. We even helped send OVER ONE MILLION calls and messages to our U.S. senators in just a few weeks.
So let me be clear about one thing: We are at this historic moment because of you and your relentless resolve.
The time, energy, dedication, and perseverance you bring to this movement each and every day is why we are here.
Thanks to your support, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act will head to the House for a vote and then be signed by President Biden to become law. This lifesaving legislation addresses all of the varying forms and complicated causes of gun violence that impact America—from domestic violence to gun suicide to community gun violence to mass shootings—through a multifaceted approach. It is a critical step towards a safer America.
Our country has needed this action for a long time. It's been a generation—26 years—since Congress last enacted a major gun safety law. But because of you, we prevented our senators from looking away from the gun violence crisis. We got them to pass this bill, even as the NRA raged against it.
Today's historic victory is proof of what we can accomplish when we refuse to give up hope.
Thank you for your commitment, your hard work, and your unrelenting belief that we can build a better, safer America.
I am honored and humbled to be in this fight with you.
Shannon Watts
She/Her/Hers
Founder
Moms Demand Action
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