RELEASE: Leading National Organizations Voice Widespread Support Ahead of House Vote on Background Checks

 Over 40 organizations, including law enforcement, veterans, and medical groups support background checks legislation 

February 25, 2019 — As the U.S. House of Representatives prepares to vote on H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019, leading national organizations from all walks of American life are urging lawmakers to pass this lifesaving bill that protects Americans from gun violence. The organizations, which include law enforcement, veterans, medical, education, human rights, gun violence prevention, faith-based, and social justice and civic engagement groups, highlight the fact that background checks for all gun sales are supported by a large majority of people from all sectors of American life.

The Giffords Veterans Coalition and Law Enforcement Coalition are among the groups urging Congress to pass H.R. 8. Just last week, 13 high-ranking military leaders, including General Stanley A. McChrystal (Ret.), General Michael Hayden (Ret.), and Lieutenant General Mark Hertling (Ret.), sent a letter to congressional leadership highlighting the fact that horrific mass shootings and the daily toll of gun violence have left Americans feeling less safe and called on Congress to close loopholes in the country’s background check system that leave communities in danger. Members of Giffords Law Enforcement Coalition, including police chiefs from across the country, also sent a letter to congressional leadership urging them to pass H.R. 8.

Recent public opinion research shows near unanimous support for the measure: 97% of Americans —including 99% of Democrats, 97% of Republicans, and 97% of gun owners—support requiring background checks on all gun sales. The gun death rate in America has reached its highest level in nearly 40 years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently announced that in 2017, nearly 40,000 Americans died from gun violence, more than 100 Americans every day.

The Bipartisan Background Checks Act has broad support from some of the nation’s leading organizations, including

Law Enforcement Organizations

•  Giffords Law Enforcement Coalition 
•  Association of Prosecuting Attorneys 
•  Hispanic American Police Commanders Association 
•  Major Cities Chiefs 
•  Prosecutors Against Gun Violence 

Veterans Organizations

•  Giffords Veterans Coalition 
•  VoteVets 

Medical Organizations

•  American Academy of Pediatrics 
•  American College of Physicians 
•  American College of Preventive Medicine 
•  American College of Surgeons 
•  American Medical Association 
•  American Medical Student Association 
•  American Nurses Association 
•  American Psychological Association 
•  American Public Health Association 
•  Catholic Health Association of the United States 
•  Doctors for America 
•  Emergency Nurses Association 
•  National Association of Social Workers 
•  National Physicians Alliance 
•  This Is Our Lane 

Education Organizations

•  American Federation of Teachers 
•  National Education Association 
•  National PTA 
•  National Association of Secondary School Principals 

Human Rights Organizations

•  Amnesty International 
•  Children’s Defense Fund 
•  Human Rights Campaign 

Gun Violence Prevention Organizations

•  Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence 
•  Coalition to Stop Gun Violence 
•  Everytown for Gun Safety 
•  Grandparents Against Gun Violence 
•  Newtown Action 
•  One Pulse for America 

Faith-based Organizations

•  Bishops Against Gun Violence 
•  Friends Committee on National Legislation 
•  Union for Reform Judaism 

Social Justice and Civic Engagement Organizations

•  Color of Change 
•  League of Women Voters of the United States 
•  Indivisible 
•  MomsRising 
•  National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 
•  Third Way 
•  United States Conference of Mayors 

Related Resources:

• Press Release: Veteran Military Leaders Call on Congress to Strengthen Gun Laws, Pass Bipartisan Background Checks Bill 
• Press Statement: Giffords Applauds House Judiciary Committee Passage of Universal Background Check Bill 
• Press Release: Law Enforcement Leaders Call on Congress to Pass Bipartisan Background Checks Bill 
• Press Statement: Executive Director of Giffords Law Center Testifies in First House Gun Violence Prevention Hearing in Over a Decade, Urging Swift Action on Bipartisan Background Checks Bill to Save Lives 
• Press Statement: Gabrielle Giffords on the Introduction of the Bipartisan Background Checks Bill 

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