Tell Congress: Close the loopholes. Pass H.R. 8 and institute universal background checks now

Tell Congress: Close the gun show loophole now!

Petition to Congress: "Close the loopholes and end the violence. Pass H.R. 8 and institute universal background checks now." Add your name:

On the eighth anniversary of Rep. Gabby Giffords' shooting, Democrats in the House introduced H.R. 8 – a bill to close the ridiculous loopholes that allow people to buy guns despite criminal records and without a background check.1 It is long past time to end the era of nothing but "thoughts and prayers" from our leaders in response to gun violence. Now it is up to us to put pressure on Senate Republicans to pass House Democrats' universal background checks bill. Tell Congress: Universal Background Checks now. Click here to sign the petition. Failure to tackle gun violence could cost some vulnerable Republicans seats in the Senate. As the Washington Post editorial board put it, "Gun law reform is no longer the third rail of politics but an issue that helped Democrats win control of the House."2 But only a loud and sustained outcry will drive that point home – and that's where we come in. For too long, Republicans and Democrats in the pocket of the gun manufacturers lobby have merely offered "thoughts and prayers" after shootings in schools, churches, a synagogue, a nightclub, movie theaters and on the Las Vegas Strip. They did nothing while gun violence stole countless more lives in homes and on streets around America.3 Domestic abusers, felons, and people who are a danger to themselves or others should not have guns, but loopholes allow too many to duck federal law. Closing the loopholes and instituting universal background checks has the support of 90 percent of the American people.  H.R. 8 will close the loopholes and crack down on illegal gun ownership – saving lives in the process.5 We have to force every pro-gun senator to support commonsense bipartisan reforms, or explain why they choose more death and destruction instead. Tell Congress: Universal Background Checks now. Click below to sign the petition: https://act.credoaction.com/sign/hr8-universal-background-checks?t=7&akid=31550%2E3130208%2EdkLB_k Heidi Hess, CREDO Action Add your name: References: The Editorial Board, "Democrats are making universal background checks a priority. They’re right to do so." The Washington Post, Jan. 8, 2019. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid.

Demand Universal Background Checks as part of the Governor's plan!

Gun show at Pima County Fairgrounds

Okay friends...this is a viable chance to make a difference. Without background checks on every gun sale, “prohibited possessors” can easily obtain any kind of weapon...at a gun show, in a parking lot, from online sales sites, just about anywhere.

I went to a gun show at Pima County Fairgrounds and in a building with probably 40+ vendors there were only 3 licensed dealers (the only sellers required to do background checks under current laws). Plus there were casual sellers in the parking lot and walking the aisles in the building.

So you can see that background checks on ALL sales are crucial to reducing gun violence and creating safe communities. Please take the easy actions below. And please pass this info on to your friends. 

- Peggy, Gun Violence Prevention Arizona

Legislation is being written to implement the elements of Governor Ducey’s proposed Safe Schools Plan, and it’s time to make our voices heard on one critical element missing from the plan: Universal Background Checks!

Call or email the Governor and YOUR representatives and senators TODAY and demand that Universal Background Checks be included in Governor Ducey’s Safe Schools plan.

Requiring background checks for ALL gun sales protects everyone. People who buy and sell guns from private sellers rarely know who they are dealing with. They could be buying a gun that was stolen or used in a crime. They could be selling to someone who could not pass a background check.

Universal Background Checks are NOT used to create a registry that would allow the government to take guns from people. With the number of guns in circulation, this would be virtually impossible and in direct violation of the 2nd Amendment right to own and bear arms. In other words, it’s not going to happen!

They are intended to make it much harder for people who are prohibited possessors (felons, domestic violence abusers, non-citizens, people who have been adjudicated mentally ill) from getting access to guns. Since the enactment of the Brady law in 1994, nearly 2.5 million prohibited possessors have been stopped.

The vast majority of Americans, including a significant majority of gun owners, support universal background checks - and Arizonans deserve to have this gun safety measure included in the plan to make not only our schools, but all of our communities, safer.

Please make these calls TODAY! We still have a chance to be part of the bill-writing process and need to make our demands heard! If you live in a district where you feel your views are already heard and represented, CALL ANYWAY! Those who are opposed to any kind of firearm regulation are flooding our legislators with emails opposing any new laws. It is vitally important for ALL legislators to know how the people they represent feel about this issue!

If you are not sure which Legislative District (LD) you live in, use this link to find out: https://azredistricting.org/districtlocator/

Once you know your LD, go to azleg.gov/memberroster and find your legislators. You have 2 Representatives and 1 Senator.

The Governor’s phone number is 602 542-4331.

SHARE this email with your network of family and friends.

- Gun Violence Prevention Arizona