Last weekend deputies in Harris County, Texas made several trips to a home after
receiving a call that a man with a long history of domestic abuse had broken
into the residence.
After they saw the lifeless body of a young boy, they broke in and received gunfire from the suspect. Ultimately, he surrendered, and when police entered the residence they found eight dead: two adults and six children.
In a jail cell interview, the suspect said he wasn't allowed to own a gun, but local news reports indicate that he was able to go online to purchase the weapon used in the attack.
Halfway across the country in North Carolina, an open carry activist shot and killed his two young children, then unsuccessfully tried to take his own life after police received a call about a domestic incident at the residence.
These two very recent incidents are just the latest examples of the critical need for Congress to close loopholes that allow domestic abusers easy access to guns.
Use our Contact Congress tool to urge your legislators to support the BIPARTISAN Dingell-Dold legislation that will prevent domestic abusers from getting their hands on guns.
According to public records, "thirty women were killed in domestic violence murders in Harris County" in 2012.
But Harris County isn't alone. And we know from all available research that when domestic abusers are able to get their hands on guns, the chances a woman is murdered increases dramatically.
That's why it's so important for us to act on this issue -- an issue that has bipartisan agreement.
As your representatives are home for August Recess, send a powerful message that you expect them to address this issue when they return to Washington, D.C.
Use our Contact Congress tool to send that message today.
While most domestic violence related shootings don't capture the national headlines like some of the other recent mass shootings, they should shock the conscience of the country in equal measure.
Let's make sure our legislators know that we're paying attention to these tragic stories, and that we expect their action.
Oregon just officially became the 18th state to require background checks for all handgun sales and the sixth since Sandy Hook to close loopholes in their background check laws.
This is the latest victory for our state-by-state strategy: working methodically, chipping away at the gun lobby's outsize influence, and winning fight-after-fight until common-sense gun laws are the national norm.
We never said it would be easy, but with you by our side, the NRA can't stop this state-by-state victory march.
Donate $18 right now in honor of the 18 states with background checks, and we'll put your gift to work right away in the fight for background checks for ALL gun sales in America.
Change takes a long time in Washington, D.C. -- which is why in addition to our work strengthening federal laws, we're also expanding common-sense gun laws in the states where loopholes make it easy for criminals and other dangerous people to get guns.
In the last three years, we've fought for and won strong background check laws in six states, including Colorado, Connecticut, and Washington State. And now Oregon.
Winning means overcoming the gun lobby and its extremist allies in state legislatures across the country. It means making the case for common-sense gun laws in the media, equipping volunteers with the tools and training to convince lawmakers, and investing in groundbreaking research that tells the true story of gun violence in America.
You can help fuel this effort by donating $18 for the 18 states that have background checks for all gun sales right now.
I am so grateful for your support. Together, we've made remarkable progress over the last several years -- and I can't wait for more victories like this one.
We know that many of you are an Americans for Responsible Solutions supporter because you are inspired by Gabby's fight to make our communities safer.
We all are.
That's one of the reasons we wanted to share a behind the scenes look at the christening of the U.S. Navy's newest ship: the U.S.S. Gabrielle Giffords. The ship is the 15th naval vessel named after a woman, and we all couldn't be more proud they chose Gabby for this honor.
We're sure you're proud like we are that the Navy chose Gabby for this honor, and hope you enjoy watching the video.
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AND SHARE ON FACEBOOK | WATCH
AND SHARE ON TWITTER
Thank you for standing with Gabby throughout her recovery and her campaign to change our gun laws. I know it means the world to her.
Last, here is a note from Chris Kitaeff, Federal Firearms Licensee: As a gun dealer in Arizona, I've run a lot of background checks. And I never sell a gun to someone until their check confirms they are a law-abiding citizen.
In the rare case that a background check takes longer than three days, a deadly loophole in the law gives gun dealers the choice of whether or not to make the sale.
I know where I stand on this: No gun sales without complete background checks. But at least two major gun retailers haven't made their background check policies clear.
Ask Gander Mountain and Sportsman's Warehouse: Do you have a common-sense "No check, no sale" policy?
Gun dealers have the authority -- and responsibility -- to make sure we're not selling to dangerous people. That's why many major retailers including Walmart, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Big 5 Sporting Goods refuse to sell guns to people with incomplete background checks.
But too many other retailers will sell guns to people with incomplete checks after three days pass. Each year, thousands of guns wind up in the hands of people who wouldn't have passed a completed background check -- including the man who killed nine churchgoers in Charleston.
Help figure out which retailers are doing the right thing on background checks.
Send a message now to ask Gander Mountain and Sportsman's Warehouse whether they require a green light on a complete background check before selling guns in their stores:
http://act.everytown.org/letter/no-check-no-sale-ask
Thanks for speaking up and finding out which gun dealers have a policy of putting safety first.
Chris Kitaeff
Federal Firearms Licensee
Scottsdale, AZ
P.S. -- Here's the scorecard of "No check, no sale" retailers. Will you help complete it by contacting Gander Mountain and Sportsman's Warehouse today?
After they saw the lifeless body of a young boy, they broke in and received gunfire from the suspect. Ultimately, he surrendered, and when police entered the residence they found eight dead: two adults and six children.
In a jail cell interview, the suspect said he wasn't allowed to own a gun, but local news reports indicate that he was able to go online to purchase the weapon used in the attack.
Halfway across the country in North Carolina, an open carry activist shot and killed his two young children, then unsuccessfully tried to take his own life after police received a call about a domestic incident at the residence.
These two very recent incidents are just the latest examples of the critical need for Congress to close loopholes that allow domestic abusers easy access to guns.
Use our Contact Congress tool to urge your legislators to support the BIPARTISAN Dingell-Dold legislation that will prevent domestic abusers from getting their hands on guns.
According to public records, "thirty women were killed in domestic violence murders in Harris County" in 2012.
But Harris County isn't alone. And we know from all available research that when domestic abusers are able to get their hands on guns, the chances a woman is murdered increases dramatically.
That's why it's so important for us to act on this issue -- an issue that has bipartisan agreement.
As your representatives are home for August Recess, send a powerful message that you expect them to address this issue when they return to Washington, D.C.
Use our Contact Congress tool to send that message today.
While most domestic violence related shootings don't capture the national headlines like some of the other recent mass shootings, they should shock the conscience of the country in equal measure.
Let's make sure our legislators know that we're paying attention to these tragic stories, and that we expect their action.
Oregon just officially became the 18th state to require background checks for all handgun sales and the sixth since Sandy Hook to close loopholes in their background check laws.
This is the latest victory for our state-by-state strategy: working methodically, chipping away at the gun lobby's outsize influence, and winning fight-after-fight until common-sense gun laws are the national norm.
We never said it would be easy, but with you by our side, the NRA can't stop this state-by-state victory march.
Donate $18 right now in honor of the 18 states with background checks, and we'll put your gift to work right away in the fight for background checks for ALL gun sales in America.
In the last three years, we've fought for and won strong background check laws in six states, including Colorado, Connecticut, and Washington State. And now Oregon.
Winning means overcoming the gun lobby and its extremist allies in state legislatures across the country. It means making the case for common-sense gun laws in the media, equipping volunteers with the tools and training to convince lawmakers, and investing in groundbreaking research that tells the true story of gun violence in America.
You can help fuel this effort by donating $18 for the 18 states that have background checks for all gun sales right now.
I am so grateful for your support. Together, we've made remarkable progress over the last several years -- and I can't wait for more victories like this one.
We know that many of you are an Americans for Responsible Solutions supporter because you are inspired by Gabby's fight to make our communities safer.
We all are.
That's one of the reasons we wanted to share a behind the scenes look at the christening of the U.S. Navy's newest ship: the U.S.S. Gabrielle Giffords. The ship is the 15th naval vessel named after a woman, and we all couldn't be more proud they chose Gabby for this honor.
We're sure you're proud like we are that the Navy chose Gabby for this honor, and hope you enjoy watching the video.
Thank you for standing with Gabby throughout her recovery and her campaign to change our gun laws. I know it means the world to her.
Last, here is a note from Chris Kitaeff, Federal Firearms Licensee: As a gun dealer in Arizona, I've run a lot of background checks. And I never sell a gun to someone until their check confirms they are a law-abiding citizen.
In the rare case that a background check takes longer than three days, a deadly loophole in the law gives gun dealers the choice of whether or not to make the sale.
I know where I stand on this: No gun sales without complete background checks. But at least two major gun retailers haven't made their background check policies clear.
Ask Gander Mountain and Sportsman's Warehouse: Do you have a common-sense "No check, no sale" policy?
But too many other retailers will sell guns to people with incomplete checks after three days pass. Each year, thousands of guns wind up in the hands of people who wouldn't have passed a completed background check -- including the man who killed nine churchgoers in Charleston.
Help figure out which retailers are doing the right thing on background checks.
Send a message now to ask Gander Mountain and Sportsman's Warehouse whether they require a green light on a complete background check before selling guns in their stores:
http://act.everytown.org/letter/no-check-no-sale-ask
Thanks for speaking up and finding out which gun dealers have a policy of putting safety first.
Chris Kitaeff
Federal Firearms Licensee
Scottsdale, AZ
P.S. -- Here's the scorecard of "No check, no sale" retailers. Will you help complete it by contacting Gander Mountain and Sportsman's Warehouse today?
| No Check, No Sale Policy in Place | Will Sell a Gun Without a Complete Background Check | Policy Unknown |
|---|---|---|
| Walmart | Cabela's | Gander Mountain |
| Dick's Sporting Goods | EZ Pawn | Sportsman's Warehouse |
| Big 5 Sporting Goods | Bass Pro Shops | |
| Academy Sports and Outdoors | Atwoods Ranch & Home | |
| Sports Authority | ||
| Dunham Sports | ||
| Bi-Mart |
