The Week in Review January 10, 2020

This week marked one year since HR 8, a bill to expand gun background checks, was introduced in the House. At that time, former Rep. Gabby Gifford (D-AZ) joined Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to unveil the legislation. That date also marked the anniversary of her horrific shooting eight years earlier in Tucson.

Today Gabby's husband, Mark Kelly, is running for the Senate in Arizona against Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ), one of the top recipients of NRA funds.

The new House majority was quick to act on their promise to end gun violence. HR 8 was one of the first pieces of legislation they introduced. That bill now gathers dust on the desk of Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

In the meantime, there were more mass shootings than days in 2019, according to the Gun Violence Archive (GVA). Last year had the highest number of mass shootings in any year since 2014, when the GVA  started tracking. There were nearly 30,000 gun deaths in 2019.

The cost of hospitalizations for gun injuries averaged $911 million during that time. The government ended up footing half of that bill through Medicaid and other public insurance programs.

McConnell has shown that he will not do anything to pass meaningful gun safety legislation. But you can do something - you can help donate to Amy McGrath and help her topple McConnell.

Change will only happen when we defeat the GOP candidates, like Sen. Thom Tillis (R-SC). Tillis has received more than $4 million in NRA contributions. Candidate Cal Cunningham (D-SC) will work to keep our kids safe and to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers, criminals, and terrorists by supporting efforts to expand background checks, ban the sale of high-capacity magazines, pass red flag laws, and fund gun violence. 

Sens. Doug Jones (D-AL) and Gary Peters (D-MI) are up for re-election this year. They have been fighting in the Senate to end gun violence, but they face tough campaigns and need your support, too.

Turn your frustration of the news of the day and outrage over Trump's constant tweets into action. Do something. Donate to JAC candidates today.

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