Dear Friends and Colleagues,
We want to share the exciting news of the recent launch of
the group Rabbis Against Gun Violence
(RAGV) and invite you to join us as we raise our voice to save lives.
We are a
national grassroots coalition of Jewish American leaders and faith activists from
across the denominational spectrum mobilized to curb the current gun violence
epidemic plaguing our communities, with nearly 900 members on board already.
We believe in the inherent dignity and sacredness of every human
life and believe that every gun death
– whether from urban violence, suicide, domestic violence, accidental
shootings, or mass shootings - diminishes
us. With nearly 33,000 Americans killed
by guns each year – that’s an unimaginable 89 lives a day, including 7 children
and teens - we feel a fierce moral imperative to speak and to act.
Rooted
in and inspired by Jewish values and teachings, we use our rabbinic voice to
educate and advocate for positive, achievable solutions that will save lives
and make our communities safer.
·
Become a member now and get
information and updates by requesting to join our
private Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/RabbisAgainstGunViolence/
Please
share this message far and wide with your network of colleagues, friends,
neighbors, congregants and family. We
welcome members from all backgrounds who support our efforts.
Together,
we can make a difference.
Rabbi Menachem Creditor
RAGV Founder and Co-Chair
Rabbi Robyn Fryer Bodzin
RAGV Co-Chair
ragvcochair@gmail.com
Eileen Soffer
RAGV National Coordinator
rabbisagv@gmail.com
More About Us
We are
committed to civil and respectful discourse even in the most contentious of
situations. We are non-partisan and do not endorse candidates. Rather, we hold those in all spheres of public
life accountable and responsible for their words and actions with regard to
safeguarding our communities from gun violence. We know we can save lives without infringing on 2nd Amendment
rights. We work in partnership with those who
share our goals.
Our Issues
Informed
by the research and advice of policy and legal experts in the field of gun
violence prevention, we support a
wide variety of efforts to save lives and to change the culture around
gun violence including the following:
ü Strengthen
Enforcement of Current Gun Laws
ü Support
Background Checks For All Gun Purchases To Help Keep Guns Out Of The Hands Of
Dangerous People
-
Include sales online
and at gun shows
-
Ensure sufficient
federal funding for the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, or
NICS, so that states have the resources necessary to provide records of
prohibited individuals to the background check system
-
Close the Charleston
loophole, so background checks are completed before a gun is sold
-
Close the Terror Gap to prevent suspected terrorists from easily buying
guns
-
Close
the many gaps in federal law that
allow dangerous abusers to have access to guns
ü
Repeal “The
Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act” (PLCAA) granting broad immunity from
liability to gun manufacturers and dealers in federal and state courts.
ü
Invest In Dedicated Funding For Research About The
Causes and Impact Of Gun Violence (removing the
current congressional ban on related research by the Centers For Disease
Control)
ü Promote
The Research and Use Of Smart Gun Technology
ü Promote
Safe Storage Practices To Prevent Unintentional Gun Deaths and Dangerously Easy
Access To Guns
ü Address Assault Weapons and High-Capacity Ammunition
Magazines
ü Enact Strong Laws
Against Gun Trafficking and Stiffen Penalties For Straw Purchasers to prevent
guns being diverted from legitimate commerce into the criminal marketplace
ü Support
Investment In Urban Violence Prevention Policies and Initiatives
ü Support
Investment In Mental Health Initiatives
ü Support
the No Notoriety Campaign that helps prevent copycat crimes and honors victims,
not perpetrators http://nonotoriety.com/
Our Executive Leadership Team Members
Rabbi Menachem Creditor, Founder and
Co-Chair
Rabbi Robyn Fryer Bodzin,
Co-Chair
Rabbi Aaron
Alexander
Rabbi Jill Jacobs
Rabbi Michael Latz
Contact Us
Eileen Soffer
National Coordinator
rabbisagv@gmail.com
