End Gun Violence. Support Common Sense Gun Safety.

Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) demands that Congress act now to address mass shootings and other gun violence. A week ago today, a 19-year-old armed with an AR-15 rifle murdered 17 students and teachers in South Florida. This was just the latest in an epidemic of gun violence at schools:

• Columbine High in Colorado
• Marshall County High School in Kentucky
• Red Lake High in Minnesota
• Townville Elementary in South Carolina
• Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut
• Italy High School in Texas
• Marysville Pilchuck High in Washington State
• Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Florida

Support Common Sense Gun Safety

It goes like this: Shots are fired, schools are locked down, children and parents and teachers try to process the bloodshed. The politicians funded by the National Rifle Association (NRA)offer “thoughts and prayers,” then blame mental health problems rather than access to guns. They even claim we just need more guns with fewer restrictions, and lash out at anyone who seeks a solution. They bash us for “politicizing the moment.” Their well-funded propaganda prevents action. And it keeps happening AGAIN and AGAIN and AGAIN.

Support the brave young people of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and other young people who demand an end to the carnage. Make plans now to attend the March for our Lives in Washington, DC, on March 24 or another rally near you. Donate to PDA to sustain our efforts. Support Common Sense Gun Safety, and call your members of Congress to let them know this issue matters to you.

Call the US Capitol Switchboard at (202)-224-3121, ask to be connected to your Senators’ and Representative’s offices. Ask to speak to (or leave a voice for) the staffer working on crime or public safety issues. Say you’re their constituent and you expect them to work for and vote for common sense gun safety laws.

Former Republican U.S. Representative David Jolly gave this advice in the wake of the Parkland, FL, shooting that killed 17 people last week: “First, flip the House. Flip the House. Republicans are not going to do a single thing after this shooting we saw today. But I would also offer to Democrats, work for incremental wins.”

We agree. Political paralysis is killing children as well as adults. Besides school shootings, our insane, permissive gun policies enable slaughter at places of worship (so prayers aren’t enough), concerts, colleges, shopping malls, movie theaters—even military bases (so more guns can’t possibly be the answer.)

We need to make real progress on common sense steps to prevent mass shootings. Like banning bump stocks that effectively turn semi-automatic weapons into fully automatic firing machines, used in the Las Vegas massacre last year. Bills were introduced in both chambers of Congress. They went nowhere, because of undue influence from gun and ammunition manufacturers working through the NRA. Some cities and states have since banned bump stocks. We need to do that nationwide. That’s incremental progress.

We need to expand background checks to keep guns out of the hands of those who shouldn’t have them. A new Quinnipiac poll finds that Americans support universal background checks by a stunning 97% to 2%. Congress must pass universal background checks now. What are they waiting for?

Let’s take David Jolly’s advice. Help PDA flip the House and Senate. Help us get progressive Democrats not beholden to the NRA elected in 2018. Help us put pressure on incumbent legislators to enact common sense laws to curtail gun violence. There’s no question we can get this done. We will keep organizing, calling, marching, and protesting. We are not going away. We are not backing down. #JusticeOrBust. We just need your sustained support—via monthly automatic gifts to elect a more progressive Congress—and a lot of concerted effort to get this done.

Support the brave young people of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and other young people who demand an end to the carnage. Click here to sign up for the March for our Lives in Washington, DC, on March 24 or a rally near you. Donate to PDA to sustain our efforts. Support Common Sense Gun Safety, and call your members of Congress to let them know this issue matters to you.

Call the US Capitol Switchboard at (202)-224-3121, ask to be connected to your Senators’ and Representative’s offices. Ask to speak to (or leave a voice for) the staffer working on crime or public safety issues. Say you’re their constituent and you expect them to work for and vote for common sense gun safety laws. Demand action now, not after yet another school is stained with the blood of innocents. If not now, WHEN?

We need you to help PDA stand up against gun violence now!

In solidarity,

Debra Schrishuhn for Mike H., Donna, Mike F., Amos, Janis, Deb, Kimberly, Bryan, Dan, Judy, and Dr. Bill—your PDA National Team

P.S. Help stand up against gun violence. Click here to support our work for common sense gun safety laws.