Responding to the Tragedy of Gun Violence

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Like all of you, our hearts are broken following the horrendous death of innocent children at an elementary school in Uvalde Texas, which follows two mass shootings last week at a supermarket in Buffalo and a church in Laguna Woods California. Thoughts and prayers are not enough. We need to act. Taking action is the only thing that will change what is happening. Here are some suggestions for appropriate actions you can consider taking.

Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is a grassroots movement – with chapters in every state – that fights for public safety measures that can protect people from gun violence.

  • Follow the New Jersey Chapter on Facebook
  • Make Calls: Join their Gun Sense Action Network to contact constituents in key districts and help connect them to their legislators to speak up for lifesaving gun safety laws. More info and sign up
  • Lobby State Legislators: Join in the NJ-State-March for Our Lives Advocacy Day In Trenton on Monday, June 13, at 11:00am. More info and registration
  • Make a donation

Contact Senator Menendez and Senator Booker to confirm Steve Dettelbach as the ATF Director.
Sample message:
As your constituent, I urge you to vote to confirm Steven Dettelbach as Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The ATF has a critical role to play in enforcing laws that protect communities from gun violence and criminal activities, investigating acts of terrorism, and combating illegal gun trafficking, but the agency has not had a confirmed director since 2015. Steven Dettelbach is a former U.S. Attorney for Ohio who has held senior positions at the Department of Justice, and would be a qualified leader for this critical agency. I urge you to vote yes on his confirmation.

Check out and support these other organizations working on gun reform initiatives:

  • Everytown for Gun Safety advocates for a legislative agenda that includes more background checks for would-be gun owners, laws that would keep guns away from domestic abusers, and tougher gun-trafficking law.
  • The Brady Campaign – one of the oldest gun control organizations – advocates for policy but also for the government to enforce laws already on its books.
  • Sandy Hook Promise – a national nonprofit organization founded and led by several family members whose loved ones were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.
  • Giffords Courage to Fight Gun Violence – led by former congresswowoman Gabby Giffords who was shot in Tuscon in 2011.

If anyone has other thoughts or ideas to share, please email: Sarita Eisenberg (email hidden; JavaScript is required) or Audrey Levitin (email hidden; JavaScript is required).

B’shalom,
Miriam Korn Haimes, President
Sarita Eisenberg & Audrey Levitin, Co-chairpersons – Social Action Committee

 

Photo: Getty image free embed

Editorial Note: This email originally was sent to the congregation on May 26, 2022. 

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