This week, the National Rifle Association released their proposal to increase school safety: arm school personnel. We have advocated a different approach, one that includes:
- Limit to access to the most dangerous weapons (including, but not limited to assault weapons) and high capacity ammunition magazines.
- Appropriate waiting period, volume sales restrictions, and universal background checks for all firearms sales, including criminal and mental health reviews.
- Diligent enforcement of firearm regulations and expansion of federal laws prohibiting gun trafficking and straw purchases.
- Robust efforts to ensure that every person in need has access to quality mental health care, including fully funding our mental health system and requiring true parity between mental and physical health care.
- National conversation about violence in media and the role of civil society organizations to confront the proliferation of violent images.
The package approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee is almost certain to be filibustered, and already, Leader Reid has said that the ban on assault weapons will not be included, but can be offered as an amendment – an extra hurdle that will make its adoption unlikely. Now, an alternative bill that excludes background checks or bans on military style weapons and high capacity ammunition is being written by Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA).
Next week will be an important week. I urge you to call your Senators on the second interfaith call-in day on Tuesday, April 9th. Join us once again to make a difference by letting Congress know we support a comprehensive approach to ending gun violence.
And, as always, be sure to stay updated on our facebook page.
Best,
