I'm writing this as I fly east to attend the National Vigil for Gun Violence Victims at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. on the one year anniversary. I will be with hundreds of gun violence survivors and families of victims from all parts of the country, including several busloads from Newtown, Connecticut.
It will be an extremely sensitive but warm communal service with faith leaders, Congressional leaders, singer/activist Carole King and the World Children's Choir organized by the Newtown Action Alliance. I know it will also be a touching emotional experience.
Huffington Post published my thoughts Monday on the Newtown anniversary -"One Year Ago This Week".
Commemorating the anniversary and working with survivors has fueled my determination to continue to push for policies which we know will reduce gun violence. I will be re-filing my Universal Background Check for all Firearm Sales bill the first week of session - a policy that over 85% of Missourians, including NRA members and gun owners want. I'm also working with legislators in Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Virginia, Vermont and Washington who are also re-filing their identical background check bills. We know we have an uphill battle but working as a nationwide coalition strengthens our resolve and committment to saving lives.
On a good note, Media Matters published a list of 23 Gun Safety Victories since Sandy Hook so we know that positive pro-active common sense policies have a chance = HERE. The focus though has shifted from Congressional action to legislative action in the states.
But hold on to your hats. The "Most Extreme Gun Bills in the Country" are back.Sen. Brian Neives (R-Washington) prefiled SB613, his version of the 2nd Amendment Preservation Act and Sen. Kurt Schaefer (R-Columbia) prefiledSJR36, a constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to bear arms. Sen. Richards (R-Joplin) promised us his new 2nd Amendment bill in October but has yet to file it.
Being an election year, you can count on many more pro-NRA and pro-gun rights bills this session (25 were filed in 2013).
As surviving gun violence victim families tell us every day, a mass shooting can happen anytime, anywhere - in your town, your state. 35,000 Americans shouldnot die from gun violence each year. No parent should have to worry that their child might be gunned down at school. Waiting for more horrific tragedies and turning our back on the gun violence existing every day in our own inner cities is not an option for me.
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