Hi John,

We started this week with news of another school shooting. Two people were killed and seven were wounded in a shooting at a St. Louis High School A community was shattered by gun violence. Again. A student body was left traumatized and families were forever torn apart. Again.

This was at least the 40th school shooting so far this year. The deadliest was in Uvalde in May. In response to that unthinkable tragedy, Texas lawmakers passed a law to send DNA kits home to parents so their children can be identified after a tragedy. Let that sink in: rather than taking action to keep assault weapons out of our communities, lawmakers are preparing parents to identify unrecognizable bodies—their children's unrecognizable bodies.

There have been over 600 mass shootings this year alone. That’s more than two mass shootings every day. At least 266 children died due to gun violence this year. 266. We refuse to accept this as the price of freedom. Our children should not fear for their lives while walking into school, John.

Our elected leaders could take action right now to keep weapons of war out of our communities and save lives. Will you add your name to our urgent petition demanding our lawmakers ban assault weapons?

Semi-automatic assault rifles are the weapon of choice for mass shooters because they make shootings deadlier. These military-style weapons fire more high-power rounds, faster, which makes it more difficult for victims to escape and lawmakers to intervene.

Assault weapons have been used in all of the deadliest shootings in U.S. history—Las Vegas, Sutherland Springs, Sandy Hook, and Parkland—and the two deadliest shootings this year in Uvalde and Buffalo.

Senseless gun violence is preventable, but DNA kits will do nothing to stop these tragedies. Help us create lifesaving change by signing our petition urging federal lawmakers to do their part to keep our communities safe.

Thank you,
Renée (she/her)