Open Letter Representative Virginia Foxx, Senator Richard Burr and Senator Thom Tillis:
With mass shootings continuing to be a rampant problem in our country, a majority of Americans are demanding that our elected officials take sensible, effective action to keep guns out of the wrong hands and prevent more heinous acts of violence against our children and all citizens. 66% of Americans want stricter gun control laws, and 67% support a ban on assault weapons, according to a recent Quinnipiac University poll.
So, Representative Foxx, Senators Burr and Tillis, how have you protected us? Voting records show that you, Virginia Foxx and Richard Burr, supported The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act in 2005, a measure to protect firearm manufacturers from being sued for crimes committed with the firearms they manufactured. You also supported Concealed Carry Reciprocity bills in 2011, 2013 and 2017 that would have allowed a person with a concealed-carry permit in one state to legally carry a concealed firearm in other states.
You, Senators Burr and Tillis, voted against the Manchin-Toomey Bill in 2015, which would have required background checks for the purchase of guns at gun shows and online. You also voted against the Murphy Amendment in 2016, which would have expanded background checks to cover guns sold online and at gun shows. You also voted against the Feinstein Amendment in 2016 which would have barred people on terrorist watch lists from buying firearms. In 2017, all of you, Foxx, Burr and Tillis, voted to undo the Mental Health bill in 2017, a regulation that added certain people with mental illnesses to the FBI's background check database.
Senators Burr and Tillis, you share the dubious honor of being among the top five senators receiving contributions from the National Rifle Association (NRA), with Burr ranking 2nd receiving $6.99 million and Tillis ranking 4th receiving $4.42 million. Virginia Foxx is also proudly endorsed by the NRA, of which she is a member. Because of the continued lobbying by the NRA, our members of Congress have failed to take meaningful action to curb gun violence, and have consistently voted “Guns Over People”. Enough is Enough. Now Americans are demanding that you step up to the task of protecting our citizens. There are several issues before the House and Senate now which must be addressed with the safety of our citizens as a priority concern.
Congress should oppose S.446, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, under which residents of states that do not require concealed carry permits could travel to any other state and carry their concealed weapon without a permit. Law enforcement organizations, including the Law Enforcement Coalition for Common Sense, have opposed concealed carry reciprocity, noting that it would make it difficult or impossible for police to confirm if a person with a concealed weapon is carrying the weapon legally. Thirty-nine states require gun safety training for any concealed carry permit applicant, but under this act, this safety measure would be invalidated, and “permitless concealed carry” would be legal in every state.
Congress should support S.1539, the Protecting Domestic Violence and Stalking Victims Act, to close dangerous loopholes in gun laws that allow perpetrators of domestic abuse easy access to deadly firearms.
Congress should support S. 1923, Background Check Completion Act, and other legislation which close legal loopholes that allow people to buy guns without background checks from private sellers, websites, or gun shows, institute universal background checks for both gun and ammo purchasers and require gun licenses.
Congress should support H.R.3999 and S.1916, the Automatic Gunfire Prevention Act, to ban the use and sale of “bump stocks” which effectively circumvent restrictions on automatic weapons.
Congress should support H.R.1478, the Gun Violence Research Act, which repeals the Dickey Amendment, and allows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to research the causes of gun violence and identify methods to reduce gun-related fatalities and injuries. The NRA has backed the “Dickey Rider” since 1996, in an effort to suppress such needed research.
Representative Foxx, Senators Burr and Tillis, you must take action. Thoughts and prayers are no longer enough. Voting for “Guns Over People” is no longer acceptable, nor will it be tolerated in the future. Your constituents are waiting and watching to see you act on behalf of common sense legislation to curb gun violence, to make our schools and public gathering places safer for all. Please hear our voices.
~ Kathryn Charles
Purlear, NC