Washington Ceasefire

It is important that we tell our representatives what we want, and hold them accountable. One of the best ways to do this is to tell them directly.

In January President Bush signed H.R. 2640, which will increase funding and oversight of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). Now it is up to our state legislature to follow suit. Washington State has the opportunity to position itself as a leader and access federal grant funding to reform our background check systems.

HB 3095, which is working its way through the State House of Representatives is an important first step toward NICS reform. The Bill passed out of the House Judiciary Committee last week and passed out of appropriations this week. Please contact your representatives and let them know that you support common-sense solutions to campus safety and firearm violence. Your voice has great influence -- we must tell our representatives what we want.

Here is a template to help you get started:

Dear Senator/ Representative ___________,

I am writing to you today as an active voter and as an American citizen who is deeply concerned with gun safety. As one opens up a newspaper or turns on the news, reports of tragic gun violence are seen again and again. In Washington State alone we have 567 fatalities from firearms yearly. It is time we begin to stop this health epidemic.

In the wake of the Virginia Tech massacre, the federal government has just passed a bill increasing funding to the NICS. This bill was put forth in the hopes of regulating the selling of guns to people without mental health problems. Now it is your turn to help with keeping Washington safe.

I implore you to vote in favor of Bill HB 3095-2007-08. This Bill seeks to exclude persons who have been involuntarily committed for up to 14 days or found not guilty by reason of insanity from purchasing a gun.

Thank you,

Name

City, State

• Tags: representatives, legislation
• Topic: Legislation

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