From the Executive Director
Hello and welcome to our May Newsletter.
Before we begin, we must acknowledge the huge increase in gun related deaths across our nation. Guns are now the leading cause of death for young people with the total number of people killed surpassing levels from the mid-1990s. We are not standing idly by, but we need your action and support.
This month we are reporting back on the gun lobby’s move to decrease public safety successfully by eliminating permits to carry loaded, concealed handguns in public in Georgia, updating you on Federal Safe Gun Storage, the latest on guns on campus, renewing our call for board members, and finally a Save the Date reminder for our Benefit in October. Of course, we wish all the higher education graduates and their families a hearty CONGRATULATIONS!
In our last newsletter we highlighted what we believe is a major threat to public safety rolling across the US — permitless concealed carry (carrying a gun in public without first obtaining a permit). Twenty-five states now allow the carrying of loaded, concealed handguns in many public places – the latest state is Georgia. In Florida, we belong to a growing coalition that is organizing opposition in case Gov. DeSantis makes good on his threat to include permitless carry in the upcoming Special Legislative Session.
In the area of safety on college & university campuses, we continue to monitor legislatures in these states with active guns on campus bills: Arizona, Missouri and New Hampshire. We are adding a new state to our watch list: New York. Please see our action center below.
On the federal side, we continue to support the KeepKidsSafeCoalition, of which we are a partner, to pass Ethan’s Law (H.R. 748/S 190). Ethan’s Law requires that gun owners lock up their firearms in homes with children. While it appears that the needed votes to bring this bill to the floor in the House exist, Judiciary Leadership is holding things up. We need your help. Contact your respective member of Congress and urge them to support a floor vote.
Last month we honored the victims and survivors from Columbine (1999) and Virginia Tech (2007) and you can view our social media posts below. You can also read our statement on Virginia Tech here: VA Tech On May 4th, we also paid homage to the four students killed at Kent State in 1970.
Finally, thank you for taking action when we ask and for supporting The Campaign with your gifts. We know that rising prices are hitting working and middle class Americans very hard right now. If you are able to make a donation it will be impactful, it will be appreciated and to will allow us to continue to touch even more lives fighting to reduce gun violence.
Please consider going the next mile by making donation to The Campaign today.
Thanks for all you do!
Andy Pelosi, Executive Director
