It’s clearer than ever that we need more than “thoughts and prayers” to put an end to the gun violence that has devastated our communities.

MoveOn members continue to take action to counter the NRA’s poisonous influence on our politics by calling on elected officials to pass common-sense gun reforms to stop the violence.

More than 140,000 people have signed a petition urging members of Congress to stop taking the NRA’s blood money donations, and more than 175,000 MoveOn members have asked FedEx to end it’s business partnership with the NRA.

After the Parkland shooting, MoveOn members stepped up to support the students in Parkland and young people around the country, while also pressuring corporations and Republican politicians to sever ties with the NRA by:

• Working closely with organizations led by people of color doing anti-violence work to connect the dots among the larger set of communities impacted by gun violence—and elevating leaders from these groups through social media and at events around the country;
• Driving tens of thousands of calls to corporations that maintain ties to the NRA and upping the pressure with partner groups at in-person actions at corporate headquarters;
• Investing deeply in our 2018 electoral program to end GOP control of Congress and deliver a rebuke to NRA-backed candidates—because ultimately, there need to be electoral consequences for those who stand with the NRA, and electoral victories will be critical for sustained progress on gun violence;
• Pledging to vote out elected officials who oppose sensible gun reform legislation;
• Participating in Wear Orange Day actions on June 1.

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MoveOn has a history of confronting the NRA and working to make real progress in fighting gun violence. Since the massacre in Parkland, MoveOn members have stepped up to support the students in Parkland and young people around the country, while also pressuring corporations and Republican politicians to sever ties with the NRA.

Here is some of what MoveOn members have been investing time, energy, and money in recently—and more of what’s to come:

• MoveOn members are mobilizing for the March for Our Lives on March 24, in D.C. and around the country, and also supporting national student-led actions on 3/14 and 4/20. MoveOn members around the country will be joining the events, and we’ll be asking MoveOn members to step up and be among organizers for local marches and actions that are looking for leaders.
• MoveOn’s in-house Video Lab has produced, livestreamed, cross-posted, or shared 67 videos—which have been viewed more than 7 million times. One of our videographers livestreamed a student-led school walkout in Maryland that was seen by over 2 million viewers.
• MoveOn members have been organizing via our online petition tool to direct pressure against corporations, Republican leaders, and others—in support of students and sensible gun violence legislation.
• MoveOn members have called on companies to end their relationships with the NRA. More than 170,000 people have signed the petition asking FedEx to end its relationship with the NRA—and more than 20 corporations have already cut sponsorships to the NRA. This is on top of tens of thousands of calls MoveOn members have made to FedEx and First National/Visa. And we’re continuing the pressure on FedEx and other corporations.
• Hundreds of thousands of MoveOn members have also called on Congress to pass a ban on assault weapons, called on the Florida Legislature to take action, and called on elected officials, including Florida Senator Marco Rubio, to return NRA donations.
• MoveOn members are running other campaigns and launching other petitions around the country—asking schools to support students, asking cities to reject the NRA, and otherwise supporting meaningful gun laws—and students and teachers especially are accessing MoveOn’s tools and reaching MoveOn members through our new hub for students and teachers to launch related petitions.
• MoveOn is distributing more than 30,000 “I stand with students” stickers for free—so that MoveOn members around the country will have a visible demonstration of their support for students in Parkland and around the country who are standing up to the NRA.
• Recognizing that the Parkland survivors are part of a much longer tradition of young people organizing to end gun violence in their communities, MoveOn, powered by grassroots member contributions, donated $100,000 to  in grants to Black and Latino-led organizations working on gun violence prevention. These groups are: Black Youth Project 100, Color of Change SuperPAC, Community Justice Reform Coalition, Dream Defenders, Homeboy Industries, Life Camp, inc, Power U Center for Social Change!, Urban Peace Movement. We’re working to amplify the many other young people, especially black and brown youth, whose fierce and transformational organizing to end gun violence hasn’t been lifted up as much or received as broadly as the Parkland students’ has.

And in the weeks ahead, we are going to deepen our investment in this work:

• Working closely with organizations led by people of color doing anti-violence work to connect the dots among the larger set of communities impacted by gun violence—and elevating leaders from these groups through social media and at events around the country
• Driving tens of thousands more calls to corporations that maintain ties to the NRA and upping the pressure with partner groups at in-person actions at corporate headquarters
• Investing deeply in our 2018 electoral program to end GOP control of Congress and deliver a rebuke to NRA-backed candidates—because ultimately, there need to be electoral consequences for those who stand with the NRA, and electoral victories will be critical for sustained progress on gun violence.

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WASHINGTON, DC – Members of Gun Owners for Gun Control, a 32,000-member initiative by MoveOn.org to mobilize responsible gun owners in the fight for stronger gun safety laws, are joining President Obama at the White House today as the president announces executive actions to expand background checks and curb gun violence.

MoveOn members who will appear beside President Obama are:

David Taylor—a retired Army officer and two-time All American in rifle shooting from Roswell, GA. A former dues-paying member of the National Rifle Association for more than a decade, David resigned his membership “when their agenda turned from promoting gun safety and responsible ownership to one of uncompromising opposition to any kind of gun control.”

Emily Landers—a responsible gun owner and survivor of gun violence from Granby, CT. Emily suffered a permanent spinal cord injury when she was shot in the back during a robbery, and she has been a victim advocate and victim service office for two governors and a lieutenant governor in Alabama.

Also joining the President today at the White House are MoveOn members Mark Carman (Hampton Roads, VA), Grant Short (Paint Lick, KY), and gun owner and survivor Karen Kelley (Nashville, TN).

Gun owners applauded President Obama for the executive actions today, which also included directing the FBI to overhaul and accelerate its processes for conducting background checks—including conducting checks 24 hours a day, 7 days a week—and hiring more than 230 new examiners. In addition to restricting guns from violent people, this change benefits responsible gun owners.

“As a gun owner and former member of the NRA, I fully support President Obama’s actions today,” said David Taylor. “Congress has failed to act to reduce gun violence. As the only elected official who represents every American, President Obama is duty bound to take these meaningful actions. He has my full support and that of the majority of responsible gun owners in this country.”

“Despite a Congress that has refused to act on this issue, President Barack Obama is bold and courageous enough to take action,” said Emily Landers. “If today’s measures save the life and health of even one person–one of our children, neighbors, friends, siblings or parents–President Obama’s actions will embody the change for which responsible gun owners have been campaigning.”

Taylor and Landers were two of 15 gun-owning MoveOn members from across the country who traveled together to Washington, D.C. in November to urge the Obama administration and members of Congress to take meaningful action to stem the epidemic of gun violence in the United States. During the trip, the gun owners met with White House Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett and delivered more than 1 million signatures in support of stronger gun safety laws to Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

See Getty photos from the delegation to DC here: http://gtty.im/1PH0hBd

See a video of the delegation here: https://www.facebook.com/moveon/videos/10153117269890493/

“Today’s executive actions to strengthen background checks are important steps to fight the epidemic of gun violence in America,” said Jo Comerford, campaign director for MoveOn.org. “The overwhelming majority of Americans support stronger background checks, including gun owners. And the voices of responsible gun owners hell-bent on breaking the NRA’s choke hold on gun-safety will be crucial to overcome the mounting opposition to this executive action and to make our country safer.”

Through Gun Owners for Gun Control, MoveOn members are committed to engaging the millions of responsible gun owners to challenge the NRA and build the political support needed to keep our communities safe from gun violence.

The NRA says it speaks for our country’s gun owners, but it has just 5 million dues-paying members—only about 6 percent of all U.S. gun owners. And even many NRA members disagree with the organization on policy. For instance, the NRA opposes requiring background checks for private and gun show sales, but 72 percent of NRA members support it, according to a November 2015 poll commissioned by MoveOn.org and the Center for American Progress.

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MoveOn: “The voices of responsible gun owners need to be heard to help challenge the myth that the NRA speaks for them.”

More than 21,151 members of MoveOn.org who are also gun-owning citizens launched an effort this week to push for common-sense gun control measures, stating they do not feel represented by the National Rifle Association (NRA) and are compelled to act to curb the epidemic of daily gun violence and mass shootings.

The formation of the initiative comes the same day as President Obama visits Roseburg, Oregon, the site of a recent mass shooting at Umpqua Community College that marked the 143rd school shooting since 2013. On Friday morning, that number increased again after shootings on the campuses of Northern Arizona University and Texas Southern University.

Here’s what some gun-owning MoveOn members had to say in joining the effort:

“My father was an NRA member and instructor, so I am aware of what the NRA used to be. Now it is a tool for gun manufacturers, not the people. Guns need to be regulated, and regulations enforced. I live an hour away from Roseburg where the latest killing spree happened.” –Valerie B., Oregon

“The statistics are clear: Those countries and U.S. states with stricter gun controls have fewer homicides. I used to belong to the NRA before it was taken over by shills for firearms manufacturers. Assault-style weapons with high capacity magazines have no legitimate sporting use. I have to carry a [driver’s license] and my vehicles must be licensed. I have no objection whatsoever to taking a firearms competency test and having my firearms registered.” –Henry C., Oregon

“I am former law enforcement and am well trained in weapons. Too many irresponsible people have easy access to far too many guns.” –Roger H., Oregon

“I’ve been a hunter since I was a boy — I was taught to respect the dangerous aspects of firearms and that to possess one was a responsibility and a privilege. I think no one should be allowed to purchase and own any kind of gun without proving that they are responsible and will use it safely.” –Thomas C., Connecticut

“The real threat to our freedom is the inability of our elected officials to embrace common sense gun controls to protect the public.” –Jenny E., Connecticut

“Guns are not toys and should be treated and regulated with the reverence they command because they are deadly in the wrong hands.” –Arlene Y., Colorado

MoveOn is launching the campaign to help push for gun control measures, including those President Obama can take through executive action as well as high-impact reforms that Congress can and should pass.

“The NRA does not speak for the majority of gun-owning Americans and thousands of MoveOn members are ready to stand alongside our allies and urge President Obama and members of Congress to come together on this issue and pass meaningful, common-sense gun control measures,” said Jo Comerford, campaign director for MoveOn.org Civic Action. “It’s crucial that we organize and elevate the voices of responsible gun owners to wrest control of this debate from the NRA. It’s long past time that Congress start feeling accountable more to the majority of Americans who support gun control instead of deep-pocketed NRA lobbyists. Every day that passes without such measures in place means we risk more mass shootings like today in Arizona and Texas and more needless gun-related deaths.”

Recently, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) said the main obstacle to passing sensible gun control policies today is the NRA’s “death grip” on Congress and state legislatures. Between 2005 and 2013, the gun industry funneled between $20 million and $52.6 million into the NRA’s sponsorship program, Bloomberg reports.

A MoveOn petition started by Shannon Watts of Everytown for Gun Safety in the aftermath of the Roseburg shooting urging President Obama to take key actions to curb gun violence has more than 30,000 signatures. Nationwide, hundreds of members from Montana to Arizona have started similar petitions calling for their representatives to enact real gun control measures.

Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD) also has a MoveOn petition calling on her colleagues in Congress to “come to grips with the realization that stemming the massive flow of illegal and legal guns into our cities is a fight for the lives of our mothers, fathers, sons and daughters.”

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There are some people who say that “guns don’t kill people, people kill people.” Those people would be wrong. Ok, they aren’t all wrong. People do kill people—but often times they do it with GUNS. People use guns to take other people’s lives at a terrifying rate in this country and it’s time we do something about it. 

Watch this week’s ‘O’Keefe Brief’ to learn more about our country’s gun crisis and what we can do to fix it.

Like what you see? Be sure to share this video with your friends.

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The strategy: To save lives, mobilize moms.

Today, we’re releasing an interview with the supermom in charge: Shannon Watts, head of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America—which is essentially the Mothers Against Drunk Driving of gun violence. She’s a mother of five, a force-of-nature communicator, and the NRA’s worst nightmare.

Hear how mom-activists are taking on the gun lobby: Click here to open the “Good Fight” podcast on iTunes! (And if you like it, be sure to subscribe and post a review!)

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Bloomberg

Seems like there should be at least as many safety regulations for owning and operating a gun as there are for doing the same with a car — especially in light of this projection. Learn more about gun statistics here and sign this petition to reduce gun violence.

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When a house bill in Montana threatened to allow guns on school campuses and other public places, Andy Pelosi of GunFreeKids.org took action by starting a MoveOn Petition, which gathered more than 1,000 signatures. After sustained advocacy efforts, Governor Steve Bullock vetoed the bill, and kept concealed weapons out of sporting events, dorm rooms, classrooms, and libraries.

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WATCH:

Found on PreventGunViolence’s YouTube channel.

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A MoveOn.org original.

The Senate will vote TODAY on whether to guarantee background checks on all gun sales and ban high-capacity ammunition magazines and military-style assault weapons.

Call your senators right now at (202) 224-3121 and tell them to support these policies.

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A MoveOn original.

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Click image to sign the petition!

Click image to sign the petition!

Click image to sign the petition!

Click image to sign the petition!

Click image to sign the petition!

Click image to sign the petition!

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Click here to find a screening near you or to host a screening. This is powerful!

Found on LivingFor32.com. Originally submitted by Sarah N.

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Found on the Facebook page of Americans for Responsible Solutions. Originally submitted by Bobby G.

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