To the Editor:

After the Sandy Hook shooting, we traveled to Washington, DC, numerous times with hundreds of heartbroken families directly impacted by gun violence. For the last four years, we implored Congress to take action to end gun violence. The majority of the Republican members of Congress told us "guns don't play a role." They repeatedly told us to focus on mental illness and the enforcement of existing laws to tackle gun violence. Regrettably, their words were only meaningless platitudes. In the last three weeks, 235 members of the House of Representatives and 57 Senators chose to roll back the 2007 NICS Improvement Amendment Act to prevent the Social Security Administration (SSA) from submitting the names of the SSA beneficiaries with severe mental illness (who may be a danger to themselves or others) to the National Instant Background Check System.

We know firsthand that an assault weapon in the hands of a person with severe mental illness is extremely deadly. All members of Congress are keenly aware of this fact; however, the majority in Congress is willing to sacrifice 30,000 Americans every year, as long as they can hold onto their political seats on Capitol Hill. They have sold their souls to the National Rifle Association (NRA). They do not represent their constituents who overwhelmingly support common sense measures to keep Americans safe. Instead of educating their constituents that keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous people is a matter of public safety, they have made a political calculus that receiving the NRA endorsements and political contributions will help them win elections. Therefore, those who were elected to protect all Americans end up protecting gun industry profits instead.

Emboldened by Donald Trump's election victory, the NRA has ramped up its efforts to put guns everywhere by loosening gun regulations across the nation. Since January, at least 22 states have introduced bills to allow permitless carry without background checks or demonstrating proof of firearm safety training and 12 states are working to put guns on college campuses; and there are congressional bills to allow concealed gun carriers (like George Zimmerman) to carry their guns into other states, to put guns in K-12 schools, and to repeal the silencer ban.

In addition, the Republican majority in the Senate has confirmed Betsy DeVos, a billionaire who supports guns in schools to protect students from grizzlies, as the US Secretary of Education and Senator Jeff Sessions, a shameless lifelong supporter of the NRA, as the US Attorney General.

The NRA spent $30 million on Trump's campaign, but Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by ~3 million votes. The majority of Americans support gun violence prevention. We encourage all Americans to continue to make gun violence prevention a priority in the next election cycles. Until we elect state and federal representatives who value our constitutional right to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness, we will be faced with 100,000 more gun deaths and injuries every single year. We must use our votes to make America safe again.

Po Murray

Chairman, Newtown Action Alliance

Sandy Hook         February 22, 2017