Produced by Coconino County Democratic Party and Democrats of the Red Rocks
THIS WEEK’S ALERT: Just a single issue, the ongoing tragedy and horror of gun violence in our nation, and putting our elected representatives on record for taking the simplest of measures to address it.
As you undoubtedly know – on Tuesday, May 24, an 18-year-old man shot and killed his grandmother, and then drove to a nearby elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. He killed nineteen children and two teachers (numbers as of this writing) – despite police on-site contacting him before he entered the school. Texas politics – the pride in reducing any attempt at regulation of guns or gun sales, including the recent reduction of the legal age of firearm purchase to 18 – set the stage for this tragedy. But national politics, from the enormous influence of the NRA and the gun lobby to the continued willingness to let the filibuster kill any sort of positive federal action, is a real culprit too.
For a fascinating and informative background on the history of gun regulation (and lack thereof) in this nation: Heather Cox Richardson’s Letters from an American, May 24 post (find it here: Letters from an American | Heather Cox Richardson | Substack ). I had not realized that the interpretation of the 2nd amendment as an endorsement of individuals owning firearms was so (relatively) recent.
Additional useful background can be found at the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence Resources | Giffords — as you probably know, an effort founded by Arizona’s own Representative Gabby Giffords after she was shot at a constituent event in Tucson. And important statistics at 5 facts about guns in America – by Judd Legum (popular.info) . Senator Mark Kelly made his feelings clear on the day of the shooting (Democratic Senator Mark Kelly says it’s ‘f***ing nuts’ not to do ‘anything about gun control’ | Daily Mail Online) – as did Senator Sinema (Sinema: ‘D.C. Solutions’ Not ‘Realistic’ On Reforming Filibuster To Pass Gun Control (talkingpointsmemo.com).
There are numerous policy options to pursue that could reduce the carnage – from the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act, passed by the House last month, to the universal background check bill passed in the House in 2021, to the bipartisan Manchin – Toomey bill passed in the Senate but without 60 votes a decade ago [yes, THAT Manchin!!]. But the key is getting at least a few Republicans willing to support action publicly – OR bypassing the filibuster to allow a majority vote.
Tell Senator Mark Kelly – you appreciate his honest emotion and his energy, and you support him and his colleagues moving to take action immediately.
Sen. Mark Kelly: Call (202) 224-2235 (DC), Email via his website at http://www.kelly.senate.gov Tag the Senator at @senmarkkelly.
Tell Senator Sinema – you are horrified that she refuses to acknowledge the moral responsibility of the Senate to protect our children’s lives. Urge her both to bring some Republican colleagues to the table for constructive action, AND to drop her support of the filibuster in this case where it is suffocating the demand of the vast majority of citizens for common-sense regulation. Sen. Sinema: Call (202) 224-4521 (DC) or (602) 598-7327. Email via her website at “http://www.sinema.senate.gov” Tag the Senator at @senatorsinema .
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