Advocacy Guide 2024: GVP Individual Actions

Preventing Gun Violence Against Women (2024) Individual Actions

 

Action Alerts:

Urge Congress to take immediate action to stop gun violence:  

Urge Congress to protect survivors of domestic violence and close the intimate partner loophole:

  • Millions of Americans report experiencing domestic violence each year, and access to firearms compounds the threat. When an abusive partner has access to a gun, a domestic violence victim is five times more likely to be killed. Under federal law, convicted domestic abusers are prohibited from owning guns only if they were married to, lived with, or had a child with the victim. If an abuser does not meet any of those criteria, the abuser can legally procure a gun. This is called the "intimate partner loophole," or the “boyfriend loophole.” In June 2022, with passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, Congress partially closed the intimate partner loophole. In June 2024, the Supreme Court reaffirmed in United States v. Rahimi that individuals subject to a domestic violence restraining order are constitutionally prohibited from possessing firearms. Now, Congress must finish the job and protect all survivors of dating violence by prohibiting all dating abusers and stalkers from accessing firearms.

Tell Congress to ban assault weapons:  

  • Assault weapons are military-style, semiautomatic firearms that can kill many people in a short period of time due to the weapons’ rapid rate of fire and high muzzle velocity – such firepower is increased when high-capacity magazines are attached, allowing the shooter to fire more rounds without needing to reload. These weapons of war have been used in many of the deadliest mass shootings in America. The Assault Weapons Ban would ban semiautomatic weapons and large capacity ammunition feeding devices, require background checks on all sales or transfers of grandfathered assault weapons, and mandate safe storage of grandfathered weapons – all of which would help safeguard American communities.

Urge Congress to require background checks on all gun sales:  

Tell Congress to protect children from gun violence:  

  • In 2020, firearm-related deaths surpassed motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of death for American children aged 1-19. The CDC researchers who found the data noted in an April 2022 letter to the New England Journal of Medicine that “the increasing firearm-related mortality reflects a longer-term trend and shows that we continue to fail to protect our youth from a preventable cause of death.” Unsecured weapons may be a contributing factor to these horrible statistics.

 

call your reps

  1. Find your member of Congress
  2. Put your zip code in the search bar and click enter 
  3. Names and phone numbers for your Senators and Representatives will be available on the right-hand side of the screen 

 

BACKGROUND CHECKS ON ALL GUN SALES

Hi,  

My name is (your name), and I’m a constituent of (Senator/Representative’s name), and I’m calling today to talk about background checks.

Every day, guns kill 100 Americans and injure hundreds more. The rate of gun violence in the United States is up to 25 times higher than other developed countries. Too many students and teachers, concertgoers, community members, and people of faith in houses of worship across the country have been brutally murdered in this country.  These tragedies are alarmingly frequent, yet infuriatingly preventable.

Studies have shown that at least 1 in 5 guns sold in the U.S. are sold without a background check. Tragically, 1 in 3 mass shooters would have been prevented from purchasing a gun but were able to because of loopholes in the existing background checks systems.

As a member of the Jewish community, I am called to speak out against violence and advocate for common-sense solutions to stop these massacres. Leviticus 19:16 teaches, "Do not stand idly by while your neighbor's blood is shed." I am inspired by the lessons from my tradition and demand reform.

All people in our country deserve to feel safe in their communities; inaction is immoral and profoundly mistaken. Please tell (Senator/Representative’s name) to support universal background checks. Thank you for your time.

 

BAN ASSAULT WEAPONS

Hi,  

My name is (your name), and I’m a constituent of (Senator/Representative’s name), and I’m calling today to talk about banning assault weapons.

In the first six weeks of 2024, 75 people were killed and 140 were injured in 44 mass shootings. Until Congress acts, more people will be killed and injured in mass shootings. All nations struggle with ideologies of hate, mental illness, and domestic violence—but the U.S. allows easy access to guns, making our gun homicide rate 26 times higher than other high-income nations.

In shootings where assault weapons or high-capacity magazines are used, 155 percent more people are shot and 47 percent more people are killed. A federal assault weapons ban would ban the importation, sale, trade, and possession of semiautomatic weapons or large capacity ammunition feeding devices, require background checks on all sales or transfers of grandfathered assault weapons, and mandate safe storage of grandfathered weapons.

As a member of the Jewish community, I am called to speak out against violence and advocate for common-sense solutions to stop these massacres. Leviticus 19:16 teaches, "Do not stand idly by while your neighbor's blood is shed." We are complicit in the destruction of lives and communities when we fail to keep weapons like semiautomatic weapons out of the hands of dangerous individuals. We cannot permit anyone to commit such senseless and preventable violence ever again.

Please tell (Senator/Representative’s name) to support a federal assault weapons ban. Thank you for your time. 

 

Media Recommendations 

Reflection Questions:

  • What were your initial reactions to this piece? How did it make you feel?
  • What was something new that you learned?
  • How does this fit into our larger fight against gun violence and gender-based violence?

 

TO WATCH:
 

House of Tulip (2023)

Summary: 

House of Tulip follows two Black trans activists as they run for office and work to build Louisiana’s first housing refuge that provides residency solely for trans and gender non-conforming residents. We’ll follow the founders as they fight to use their organization to protect and build community in a state with one of the highest murder rates in the country. Their journeys will highlight the dangerous, yet beautiful reality of what it means to be Black trans women in the deep South.

 

They Ain’t Ready For Me (2020)

Summary: 

THEY AIN'T READY FOR ME is the story of Tamar Manasseh, the African American rabbinical student who is leading the fight against senseless killings on the south side of Chicago. The film explores the challenges and motivations of this fearless community leader as she works to prevent more people from being killed by gun violence. Tamar's complex identity and magnetic personality combine to make her a force to be reckoned with, and she hasn't even hit her stride yet.

 

Year of the Gun (2019) (Note: you might have to make an account in order to view)

Summary: 

Living in Canada, it’s tempting to view stories of gun violence south of the border as an American epidemic. But the statistics tell a different story. Year of the Gun, a documentary featured on CBC Docs POV, shines a spotlight on Toronto, where gun-related violence is rising at an alarming rate. This increase isn’t unique to Canada’s largest city—it’s a trend seen across the country.

 

TO READ:

 

Prayer for Victims of New Zealand Terror Attack” by Rabbi Stacey Zisook Robinson

Summary: 

A poem written by Reform Jewish Rabbi Stacey Zisook Robinson following the New Zealand terror attack in which a gunman shot 51 people in a mosque.

 

Incels: Inside a dark world of online hate” by Jonathan Griffin

Summary: 

Jake Davison, the man suspected of killing five people in Plymouth, had been active on social media platforms discussing the "incel" movement—young men describing themselves as "involuntarily celibate." At least two previous mass killings, both in the United States, have drawn attention to the online activities of these groups. So, what do we know about those who participate in these forums?

 

Nine Years After Deadly ‘Incel’ Attack, Threat of Male Supremacism is Growing” by Rachael Fugardi

Summary: 

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) writes a deep dive on male supremacist violence and how it spreads.

 

Women impacted by gun violence want to make one thing clear: ‘We don’t have to live like this’” by Jennifer Gerson

Summary: 

The 19th spoke with three women about how their experiences have impacted the way they have come to understand the gun violence epidemic in America.

 

Sanctuary” by Susan Merson

Summary: 

In this fiction piece, Merson explores what it means for a space to be safe and holy.

 

TO LISTEN:

 

Leaving Eden Ep. 122: “Is Toxic Masculinity a Cult?”

Summary: 

In this episode, Gavi presents an overview of what he has learned over the past 5 months during his deep dive into the manosphere. He and Sadie discuss how the thought patterns that are relied upon for toxic masculinity to operate absolutely share elements with cult control.  

Trigger Warning: In general, we talk about a lot of potentially triggering topics on this show, including but not limited to suicide and mental health, racism, misogyny, PTSD and PTSD symptoms, child abuse, mental, physical, and sexual abuse, and spiritual abuse including guilt, shame, and fear. In this episode we’re going to be discussing a ton of misogyny, just all of the kinds and shapes of misogyny, but we’ll also likely mention mass shootings, individual violence against women, and sex trafficking. Please make an informed decision about listening, and take care of yourself.

 

Boys Like Me

Summary: 

Why are some lonely, young men a growing threat to our safety? In 2018, a Toronto man drove a van down a busy sidewalk, killing 11 people and injuring many more. He was linked to the "incel" movement, a dark online world fueled by violent misogyny, extreme isolation and perceived rejection. In the wake of the attack, Evan Mead discovers a disturbing connection to the perpetrator. They were former high school classmates; both outcasts, existing together on the fringes of social acceptance. How did two young men who started in similar circumstances, end up on such drastically different paths? This five-part series examines how socially-isolated young men can vanish into an online world of nihilism and despair that radicalizes them into angry—potentially deadly—misogynists. Hosted by Ellen Chloë Bateman and produced by Daemon Fairless (Hunting Warhead).  

Trigger Warning: This podcast contains discussion of discrimination, ableism, misogyny and violent misogyny, sexual violence, and other serious topics. Please make an informed decision about listening, and take care of yourself.

 

Red, Blue, & Brady

Summary: 

This isn't your typical political podcast. Brought to you by one of the oldest gun violence prevention organizations, Red, Blue, and Brady discusses current events and shares personal narratives in its exploration of America's epidemic of firearm woundings and deaths. In these episodes, you'll hear our host JJ talk with survivors, activists, academics, politicians, and more as they join together for insightful—and, despite the grim subject matter, at times humorous—dialogs about the country's long-standing love for guns, the positive and negative effects of that love, and the political, educational, and cultural efforts of Brady and its allies as we work together to end gun violence.

Suggested episodes:

  • Ep. 208: Examining Racism Against the AAPI Community and Gun Ownership
    • Summary: 

      Does experiencing racism or discrimination make you more likely to buy a gun? Does being worried about being a target of hate make you more likely to carry a firearm with you? Evidence seems to suggest yes, as increased rates of hate crimes against members of the AAPI community in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic led to an unprecedented rise in Asian American gun ownership. To examine how firearm behaviors (how guns were stored, carried, and thought about) were impacted by racism and discrimination experiences, Dr. Hsing-Fang Hsieh (University of Michigan) and Dr. Tsu-Yin Wu (Eastern Michigan University) launched a new, landmark study, which they joined the podcast to share with hosts Kelly and JJ.

  • Ep. 192: Gun Violence and the Dating Partner Loophole
    • Summary: 

      When it comes to intimate partner violence, the presence of firearms is deadly. Horrifically, more than one in four homicides in the United States are related to domestic violence. The passing of the bipartisan Safer Communities Act is a massive step forward in addressing gun violence within intimate partner violence, but as guest Rachel Graber (Director of Public Policy, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence) broke down for hosts Kelly and JJ, we're not at the finish line yet. This bill partially closes the so-called "dating loophole," in that domestic partners convicted of domestic abuse will no longer be able to purchase firearms, rather than just spouses or former spouses (though there are time limits and other provisions). Rachel explains what the bill does (and doesn't do), what impact recent Supreme Court decisions may have on gun laws, and how to address intimate partner violence better.

  • Ep. 169: The Dangerous Intersection of White Women, White Nationalism, and Gun Violence
    • Summary: 

      While discussions of white supremacy (the belief that the United States was, and should, remain a mostly white country) have been increasingly discussed, there has been a part of the equation we haven't really touched on: the role white women have played in protecting and perpetuating white supremacist hatred. And while white nationalist groups may be dominated by hypermasculine, misogynist rhetoric, they nevertheless hold many women in their ranks, from the Ku Klux Klan to the Aryan Nation to the alt right. But role do these women play, and what made them join these hate groups? What made them so vulnerable, and then so supportive, of hateful propaganda? And disturbingly, how do people get radicalized into committing violence? To find out, hosts Kelly and JJ are joined by journalist and author Seyward Darby, author of the book Sisters in Hate: American Women on the Front Lines of White Nationalism. Together, we discuss how through profiling three prominent women in the white nationalist movement*, Darby traces out what propelled these women (and many like them) into white nationalism; how insidious this rhetoric is; and what we all can do to combat hate-based violence.

  • Ep. 168: Rising Anti-Semitic Gun Violence, Its Causes and Effects, and Where We Go From Here
    • Summary: 

      This week, an armed man, making anti-Semitic statements, entered the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, while members celebrated Shabbat morning services. What followed was a ten-hour hostage crisis that thankfully ended when Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker threw a chair at the gunman, and the congregants were able to run to safety. But this terrifying attack isn't the first act of violence based in antisemitism; and, as many experts warn, it might not be the last. To discuss what happened in Colleyville, how anti-Jewish prejudice has become mixed with gun violence, hate crimes, and how we can all push back against this violence, hosts Kelly and JJ are joined by Shira Goodman, Director of Campaigns and Outreach at the Anti-Defamation League.

  • Ep. 73: Gun Violence and the Murder of Black Trans Women
    • Summary:

      In early 2020, the American Medical Association said that killings of transgender women of color in the United States amounted to an epidemic. Transgender women of color are exceptionally prone to the deadly consequences that arise from the intersections of racism, sexism, transphobia, and unchecked access; 2020 alone has already seen at least 16 transgender or gender non-conforming people fatally shot or killed by other violent means. To discuss the murders of Black trans women and how firearms contribute to them, host JJ is joined by Kelly Sampson, legal counsel at Brady, and Imara Jones, writer, activist, and creator of TransLash.

  • Ep. 7: What Are Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs)?
    • Summary: 

      Joan Peterson became a gun violence prevention activist after the estranged husband of her sister, Barbara Lund, shot to death both Barbara and her boyfriend, former Iowa state legislator Kevin Kelly. In today's episode, Joan tells JJ and JP about her long history of activism following the loss of her sister, why extreme risk prevention orders (often referred to as "ERPOs," sometimes as "red flag laws") need to be passed into law wherever they are proposed, why background checks matter, and how to deal with internet trolls.