Today’s Action: Prevent Gun Violence at the state level

It is in deep grief and dismay that our nation now faces another mass school shooting, this time at Santa Fe High School in Texas, where at least ten lives were lost. And it is in outrage that we once again ask ourselves how many more victims we’ll mourn before we finally see necessary protections from gun violence in this country.

Santa Fe. Parkland. Sutherland Springs. Las Vegas. Hundreds of others…just in the past eight months. And yet, Republicans in Congress have refused to pass even the most basic protections against our national gun violence epidemic.

But just as much work can and should be done at the state level to reduce needless tragedy in our nation. In fact, in the months following Parkland, many states have passed new gun control laws — but others have actually introduced legislation to increase the flow of unregulated weapons into our communities.

Gun laws greatly vary by state – and respectively, so do levels of gun violence. And the evidence is irrefutable: loose gun protection laws in or near communities cause tragedies.

Taking action at the state level can save lives nationwide, and it has two simple steps:

1. Visit the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence to view your state’s gun violence ranking – and recommended improvements to the law.
2. Call or email your state legislators and demand those improvements in your state.

States have the power to prohibit domestic abusers from purchasing guns, require concealed weapon permits, enforce waiting periods and background checks, and more.

Frankly, our state legislators don’t get nearly as many calls as Congress, but the work they can have just as big an effect – so let’s light a fire under them.

Visit the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence to view your state’s ranking in gun control, then call or email your state legislators with recommendations.