It’s On Us, Too: An Easy Guide To Contacting Your Elected Representatives About Gun Control
If
you’re hurting like I am right now, thinking about the epidemic of gun
violence in this country, but you have not yet contacted your elected
representatives to make your voice heard, it’s time. I believe that many
of us are disillusioned with our government, knowing the power the gun
lobby holds over so many of the politicians that are supposed to fight
for us, but disengaging from the system and spreading the word isn’t
enough. I repeat — it isn’t enough. I just finished reading Senator
Elizabeth Warren’s memoir and I am emotional and fired up about what our
senators and representatives can do. They are our voices in Washington,
and we don’t even have a chance of them following through on that
unless we share our opinions and let them know what we feel.
I
was appalled that when I tried to find sample form letters of gun
control support, I couldn’t find even one — just four straight Google
result pages of sample letters for those who oppose gun control. So! I have taken some of the guesswork out for you, poked around online, and using the language ofEverytown for Gun Safety and Americans for Responsible Solutions, crafted my own form letter for you to use.
PLEASE,
PLEASE, PLEASE. Take a little bit of time out of your day today and
call or email your representatives. Not doing so — staying silent and
privately grieving — isn’t enough anymore.
To contact my Representative and Senators took about ten minutes in all.
Here’s how to contact your Senators and Congresspeople:
And here’s a form letter for you to use:
Dear ________________,
I
am writing to urge you to support expanded background checks to reduce
gun violence in the United States. I am begging you to vote to close the
deadly loopholes in our laws that make it too easy for dangerous people
to get guns.
Background checks are supported by over 90% of all Americans and are a commonsense tool for keeping guns out of the hands of criminals and the dangerously mentally ill. Background checks on gun sales are the most effective way to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people and help save lives.
It’s time to end the epidemic of gun violence in our country. Thank you for doing what is right for the people of [your state] and the United States.
Thank you,
[Your Name]
Background checks are supported by over 90% of all Americans and are a commonsense tool for keeping guns out of the hands of criminals and the dangerously mentally ill. Background checks on gun sales are the most effective way to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people and help save lives.
It’s time to end the epidemic of gun violence in our country. Thank you for doing what is right for the people of [your state] and the United States.
Thank you,
[Your Name]
Want to call instead? Right on! Here is a script to use, from Americans for Responsible Solutions:
Hello,
my name is __________, and I’m calling today from __(city)__ to urge
Senator/Representative __________ to support expanded background checks
to reduce gun violence in the United States.
Background
checks are supported by over 90% of all Americans and are a commonsense
tool for keeping guns out of the hands of criminals and the dangerously
mentally ill.
Thank you for sharing my message.
Or these guidelines, from Everytown for Gun Safety, if scripts ain’t your style!
- Tell them your name and where you live.
- Demand a vote to close the deadly loopholes in our laws that make it too easy for dangerous people to get guns.
- Tell them that background checks on gun sales are the most effective way to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people and help save lives.
Make sure to say thank you before you hang up.
Of
course, these form letters are optional for your use; if you have
particular ideas about policy or want to speak from experience, you
should absolutely do so. The most important thing is that you contact your representatives to tell them: this has to change.
Thank
you for doing your part… I genuinely believe that together our voices
can make a difference! Please share! This is our country, and elected
officials work for us. Don’t go down without a fight.
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