Our friends at the Center for American Progress (CAP) recently released a groundbreaking report that outlines the devastating impacts gerrymandering has had on efforts to reduce gun violence.
They focused on four states -- all of which are on our list of advocacy targets: North Carolina, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.
These are all states where Republicans won a majority of seats in the state legislature in the 2018 elections, despite Democrats winning a majority of the vote. But what does that mean once members elected by these gerrymandered maps take their seats? On the issue of gun violence prevention, the answer is clear: Obstruction.
- North Carolina: With a homicide rate 16% above the national average, 58% of North Carolinians support stricter gun laws. But legislation to temporarily remove firearms from high-risk gun owners has stalled in a Senate committee as recently as 2019.
- Michigan: Gun-related suicides hit the state at an alarmingly high rate with a Michigander taking their life with a firearm every 14 hours. Even though 64% of Michigan Republicans favor legislation that would remove firearms from high-risk gun owners, the Senate Majority Leader has failed to schedule a hearing.
- Pennsylvania: The legislature has introduced a bill to expand background checks every session since 2013, but legislation has been stalled in the House Judiciary Committee.
- Wisconsin: An August 2019 poll showed 80% of Wisconsinites support stronger gun laws. The governor called a special legislative session to address the issue in the fall, but the legislature ended the session less than one minute after it began.
There is a clear disconnect between voters, their priorities, and the elected officials charged with addressing them. It's why President Obama and AG Holder launched All On The Line -- to make our democracy work again. And it's why we send so many fundraising emails.
Can you make a donation to help fund our plans to end gerrymandering and restore power to the people?
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We know our plans can work. Just this week, Virginia's legislature began with gun reform as one of its top priorities. It's no coincidence that this is the first legislative session since Virginians voted using fair maps redrawn because a federal court threw out the old maps due to racial gerrymandering.
There is hope and there will be change.
Keep fighting,
The All On The Line Team
All On The Line is the grassroots advocacy campaign supported by the National Redistricting Action Fund.
