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We need a Mental Health Bill

June 1st, 2008, blog post by lysondra

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 fundingand 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 andaccess federal grant funding to reform our background check systems.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 seenagain and again. In Washington State alone we have over 500 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 peoplewithout mental health problems. Now it is your turn to help with keeping Washington safe.

I implore you to vote in favor of  any Mental Health bill that limits the ability of the Mentally ill to purchase firearms.

Thank you,

Name
City, State