Call on House Democratic Leadership to Make Background Checks a Caucus Priority

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Subject: Call on House Democratic Leadership to Make Background Checks a Caucus Priority

Some NH House Dems voted against background checks -- this petition calls on Democratic House Leadership to start making background checks and other gun violence prevention bills caucus priorities. Check it out:

http://act.granitestateprogress.org/letter/call-house-democratic-leadership-make-background-checks-caucus-priority/?referring_akid=92.7782.1F4o8Y&source=taf

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It is high time for background checks to be a caucus priority, and I call on you and the rest of the House Democratic Leadership Team to make it one.

The national Democratic Party platform reads: “With 33,000 Americans dying every year, Democrats believe that we must finally take sensible action to address gun violence. While responsible gun ownership is part of the fabric of many communities, too many families in America have suffered from gun violence. We can respect the rights of responsible gun owners while keeping our communities safe. To build on the success of the lifesaving Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, we will expand and strengthen background checks and close dangerous loopholes in our current laws …” https://www.democrats.org/party-platform

The state Democratic party platform reads: “We believe in policies, including reasonable background checks, that appropriately balance the rights of individuals to responsibly own and use firearms, and to live in a community safe from violence.” http://nhdp.org/who-we-are/our-platform/

Poll after poll demonstrates that nearly 9 out of 10 Granite Staters support strengthening background checks to keep guns out of the hands of felons, domestic abusers, and other prohibited persons. New Hampshire is a pro-gun state, but it is also a pro-gun safety state.

I am disappointed to learn that three Democrats on the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety committee – including the ranking Democrat – voted against closing the background checks loophole. The House Democratic Leadership Team must take swift action to ensure that reducing gun violence becomes a caucus priority on this and any future bills.

General talking points:

Gun violence prevention - and background checks, specifically - are in the state and national party platform.

Nearly 9 out of 10 Granite Staters support expanded background checks, so the argument that any particular district is more conservative just doesn't hold true.

Democrats had no problem calling on former U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte to support expanded background checks, so no one should be weak-kneed when it comes to their own votes, party, or caucus.

Background checks have been the most effective way to keep firearms out of the hands of dangerous people. Closing the background check loopholes, and supporting other common sense gun violence prevention laws, is an important part of a strong public safety platform.