| Dear Friend, The California Assembly just passed some of the most sweeping gun safety legislation in the nation, including a red flag law that prohibits gun dealers from selling to anyone they think may cause harm.(1) This is the kind of law that could really prevent mass shootings like we saw at Uvalde and Buffalo, and laws that pass in California often become model legislation in others states. That's why the NRA is freaking out. They are already suing to challenge the new law as well as several other gun safety protections.(2) The NRA is also pouring big money into electing right-wing politicians like NRA lapdog Kevin McCarthy to overturn any legislation they don’t like. If we are going to pass the kind of commonsense gun safety protections we need to keep our kids safe, we need to elect legislators committed to stopping gun violence up and down the ballot.
California’s new legislation holds gun dealers and makers accountable in a way that they haven’t been before. If they act irresponsibly or illegally, those who are harmed have the right to sue for damages.(3) These gun safety laws work. Because of laws requiring permits for gun owners, background checks, and secure storage, California suffers only 8.5 gun deaths per 100,000 residents -- a quarter as many as red states like Mississippi. (4)(5) However, these laws are at risk of being overturned. The Supreme Court weakened gun safety laws in this last session, and extremist right-wing Republicans in Congress like Rep. Lauren Boebert and Sen. Ted Cruz have vowed to shut down gun safety legislation if they get the majority in the next election.(6)(7) America has a gun violence problem, and we need to elect legislators who will help solve it. Courage California is working to elect those representatives. Yours in the fight against gun violence, Irene, along with Amber, Angela, Annie, Isidra, Jay, Lindsay, LisaMarie, Mai, Mai, Raquel, and Scottie (the Courage PAC team)
PS: Courage California is fighting for equity and justice across the state and the country. Will you become a monthly donor and help sustain our work? Donations go to support all of Courage California's work for a more progressive California and country. Follow us now on Facebook or Twitter! Footnotes:  |
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