Re: Act now: Congress can right this wrong and save lives

Friend, our nation is in the midst of a gun violence epidemic, one which has claimed countless innocent individuals and continues to shatter communities across the country. [Sign the petition: Ban assault weapons!]( [SIGN THE PETITION]( Historical data provides us with a clear solution. The 1994 federal assault weapons ban was instrumental in reducing the risk of Americans dying from mass shootings by a staggering 70%. For the ten years it was law, both the number of deaths and the frequency of such incidents [decreased]( significantly. However, Congress didn't extend the ban after 2004, and the consequences have been dire. Assault weapons, once restricted, have been the weapon of choice in many of the most heart-wrenching mass shootings our nation has seen, including the tragedies at Sandy Hook in 2012, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018, and Uvalde, TX in 2022. These military-style semi-automatic weapons and high-capacity magazines have turned our public spaces into terror zones. It is high time for Congress to take decisive action. We must reinstate the federal assault weapons ban and end this senseless violence. [Sign the petition: Ban assault weapons!]( [SIGN THE PETITION]( Thanks for all you do, Mayra Souza, Daily Kos P.S. Below is an email we sent out earlier demanding an assault weapons ban: --------------------------------------------------------------- Friend, [sign the petition: Ban assault weapons.]( [SIGN THE PETITION]( The United States has [surpassed]( 400 mass shootings in 2023, on pace for a record-breaking year in gun violence with an average of nearly two mass shootings a day. Gun violence is the leading cause of death among children and teens. This is devastating news. This is an epidemic that we can and must prevent. Banning assault weapons saves lives. The 1994 federal assault weapons ban reduced the risk of a person in the U.S. dying from a mass shooting by [70%](. Both the number of deaths and the number of annual incidents decreased significantly. Congress failed to extend the assault weapons ban beyond 2004. [Sign the petition: Ban assault weapons.]( [SIGN THE PETITION]( Thoughts and prayers are not enough. Too many Americans are being senselessly gunned down in public spaces in towns and cities across the nation. Americans deserve a strong response from the federal government. In order to save lives and stop the carnage, Congress must enact a federal assault weapons ban. [Sign the petition to Congress: Pass legislation to immediately ban assault weapons.]( [SIGN THE PETITION]( Thanks for all you do, Erin Tulley, Daily Kos Daily Kos is powered by grassroots donors like you Donations from our readers and activists like you are our largest source of income. We literally can't do the work we do without your help. Please support progressive, independent news and activism with a $5 donation today. [Donate $5]( If you wish to donate by mail instead, please send a check to Daily Kos, PO Box 70036, Oakland, CA, 94612. Contributions to Daily Kos are not tax deductible. Sent via [ActionNetwork.org](. To update your email address, change your name or address, or to stop receiving emails from Daily Kos, please [click here](.