Dear neighbor,  I am heartbroken — and furious. On Tuesday, our nation saw 19 beautiful children and two of their teachers massacred in Uvalde, Texas. Their murders came just 10 days after members of the Black community in Buffalo, including several seniors, were gunned down in a racist attack at their local grocery store.    In a country plagued by gun violence, it can be easy to become overwhelmed by the news of yet another shooting, but I refuse. I won’t sit back quietly as our family, friends, and neighbors are senselessly murdered.  This year alone, we have seen more than 200 mass shootings in the United States — we’re only 146 days into the year. We’ve lost more than 17,000 people to gun-related deaths. Of course, we know entirely too well in our own community the pain and terror of gun violence. We know that it’s not just the mass shootings, but the everyday acts of violence we experience on our streets, in our homes, and elsewhere that are tearing families and communities apart.  Enough is enough.  One of the reasons I ran for Congress was to fight for common sense gun violence prevention — to protect our children, our families, and our communities. Every day, I come to work thinking about those I stood shoulder to shoulder with 22 years ago at the Million Mom March and those I’ve met since who have been impacted by gun violence. Parents who buried children, families afraid for their kids to play outside or go to school, and community members begging for officials at every level of government to take action. I want you to know what I’m working on to advance common sense gun reform and save lives. Background Checks: Last year, the House passed the Bipartisan Background Checks Act to implement universal background checks and the Enhanced Background Check Act to close the Charleston loophole. Now, we need the Senate to vote on these crucial bills. Safe Storage: I’m proud to cosponsor a number of bills related to safe firearm storage, including Ethan’s Law — named for 15-year-old Ethan Song, who was killed at a friend’s house after being shot with an improperly stored gun.Extreme Risk Protection Laws: All too often in the wake of gun violence, we hear that people in a community knew a shooter was troubled, and likely a danger to themselves or others. Extreme Risk Protection or “Red Flag” laws provide a process for concerned family members or law enforcement to petition a court to prevent these individuals from being able to legally possess a firearm. A vote on a federal “Red Flag” law is expected in the coming days. Curbing Illegal Sales: Many illegal gun sales are made through Facebook Marketplace and other social media sites. In March, I introduced the Stopping the Fraudulent Sales of Firearms Act to prevent the illegal sale of firearms and ammunition through social media and other online platforms.Banning Assault Weapons and High-Capacity Ammunition: Statistics show that a federal ban on military-style assault rifles saved lives from 1994 to 2003. We need to reinstate that ban and limit the size of ammunition magazines. Criminals should not be able to arm themselves more heavily than police officers.Regulating Ghost Guns: I’ve pushed for action from Congress and the White House to stop the proliferation of these untraceable weapons, which are assembled at home from kits. Recently, President Biden has taken key steps to regulate ghost guns — requiring the kits to be produced by licensed manufacturers and requiring anyone buying the guns to pass a background check.At the same time, I continue to push for necessary investments in mental health and providing law enforcement with the resources they need to thoroughly investigate and prosecute gun crimes. My most sacred obligation under the Constitution is to protect the rights of my fellow Americans. But let's be clear: The Second Amendment is not unlimited, and it is not a suicide pact. We need to enact and enforce laws that protect the rights of all Americans to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness — free from gun violence.  The visceral pain we’re feeling right now is all too familiar, but it doesn’t have to be this way.  I’m not giving up until Congress passes the meaningful gun violence prevention measures our communities deserve. Please join me in this fight for our children and families by demanding accountability from elected officials at every level.  Sincerely, Mary Gay
Representative First Last
 

Dear neighbor, 


I am heartbroken — and furious. On Tuesday, our nation saw 19 beautiful children and two of their teachers massacred in Uvalde, Texas. Their murders came just 10 days after members of the Black community in Buffalo, including several seniors, were gunned down in a racist attack at their local grocery store.   


In a country plagued by gun violence, it can be easy to become overwhelmed by the news of yet another shooting, but I refuse. I won’t sit back quietly as our family, friends, and neighbors are senselessly murdered. 


This year alone, we have seen more than 200 mass shootings in the United States — we’re only 146 days into the year. We’ve lost more than 17,000 people to gun-related deaths. Of course, we know entirely too well in our own community the pain and terror of gun violence. We know that it’s not just the mass shootings, but the everyday acts of violence we experience on our streets, in our homes, and elsewhere that are tearing families and communities apart. 


Enough is enough. 


One of the reasons I ran for Congress was to fight for common sense gun violence prevention — to protect our children, our families, and our communities. Every day, I come to work thinking about those I stood shoulder to shoulder with 22 years ago at the Million Mom March and those I’ve met since who have been impacted by gun violence. Parents who buried children, families afraid for their kids to play outside or go to school, and community members begging for officials at every level of government to take action.


I want you to know what I’m working on to advance common sense gun reform and save lives. 

  • Background Checks: Last year, the House passed the Bipartisan Background Checks Act to implement universal background checks and the Enhanced Background Check Act to close the Charleston loophole. Now, we need the Senate to vote on these crucial bills. 
  • Safe Storage: I’m proud to cosponsor a number of bills related to safe firearm storage, including Ethan’s Law — named for 15-year-old Ethan Song, who was killed at a friend’s house after being shot with an improperly stored gun.
  • Extreme Risk Protection Laws: All too often in the wake of gun violence, we hear that people in a community knew a shooter was troubled, and likely a danger to themselves or others. Extreme Risk Protection or “Red Flag” laws provide a process for concerned family members or law enforcement to petition a court to prevent these individuals from being able to legally possess a firearm. A vote on a federal “Red Flag” law is expected in the coming days. 
  • Curbing Illegal Sales: Many illegal gun sales are made through Facebook Marketplace and other social media sites. In March, I introduced the Stopping the Fraudulent Sales of Firearms Act to prevent the illegal sale of firearms and ammunition through social media and other online platforms.
  • Banning Assault Weapons and High-Capacity Ammunition: Statistics show that a federal ban on military-style assault rifles saved lives from 1994 to 2003. We need to reinstate that ban and limit the size of ammunition magazines. Criminals should not be able to arm themselves more heavily than police officers.
  • Regulating Ghost Guns: I’ve pushed for action from Congress and the White House to stop the proliferation of these untraceable weapons, which are assembled at home from kits. Recently, President Biden has taken key steps to regulate ghost guns — requiring the kits to be produced by licensed manufacturers and requiring anyone buying the guns to pass a background check.

At the same time, I continue to push for necessary investments in mental health and providing law enforcement with the resources they need to thoroughly investigate and prosecute gun crimes.


My most sacred obligation under the Constitution is to protect the rights of my fellow Americans. But let's be clear: The Second Amendment is not unlimited, and it is not a suicide pact. We need to enact and enforce laws that protect the rights of all Americans to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness — free from gun violence. 


The visceral pain we’re feeling right now is all too familiar, but it doesn’t have to be this way. 


I’m not giving up until Congress passes the meaningful gun violence prevention measures our communities deserve. Please join me in this fight for our children and families by demanding accountability from elected officials at every level. 


Sincerely,


Mary Gay
Washington, DC Office
1535 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-2011
Chester Office
2501 Seaport Drive, BH230
Chester, PA 19013
(610) 626-2020
 
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