John, 

Today marks 10 years since a shooter walked into Sandy Hook Elementary with a military-style assault weapon and, within four minutes, shot more than 154 bullets that killed 20 children and 6 educators.

Still, we didn’t pass gun violence prevention legislation, despite the uproar of a nation. I will never understand how that wasn't the last straw, even for the gun lobby. Witnessing 7-year-old children murdered in their classrooms should have been enough.

Now, a decade later, these weapons of war remain on our streets while the Senate sits on legislation that could ban them. Inaction by our lawmakers has allowed far too many more children to be gunned down in their schools – 17 in Parkland, FL, 22 in Uvalde, TX…

Our children can’t wait any longer — not when gun violence is now the number one cause of death for children in the United States. Not when each day holds the same danger of gun violence as the last.

The Senate has the chance to reinstate a ban on assault weapons, after the House passed a ban for the first time in decades just this summer. It is long past time for life-saving change, John – we cannot let more children die because of inaction. Can you help us make it absolutely clear to our lawmakers: Take these deadly weapons off the street and save lives.

We once had a ban on assault weapons and for the 10 years that a ban was in effect, deaths caused by assault rifles were notably reduced. When it expired, mass shooting deaths increased by 347%. This confirms what we already knew, friend: This policy saves lives. Banning these weapons of war means stopping the next tragedy – because they are the common link between all of the deadliest mass shootings in the US. 

Brady fights every day to make sure no family feels the pain and loss that gun violence survivors — people like me and many of my colleagues — do. We have the power to prioritize banning assault weapons and stop more anniversaries of senseless tragedy. That’s why I'm asking you personally: 

Will you join me in demanding change from our lawmakers and urging them to ban assault weapons? It is a somber day, but it's also a day where we can instill so much more hope into our fight. So please, take just a moment to add your name.

Thank you,

Liz Dunning