WASHINGTON - March 22 - Today 42 elected officials from 20 states and Young Elected Officials Action, a program of People For the American Way representing the interests of elected officials age 35 and under, called on House and Senate leaders to work toward the passage of common-sense gun violence prevention reforms. In a letter to House and Senate leaders, the elected officials write that until Congress passes “meaningful gun violence prevention measures” such as criminal background checks for every gun sale, state and local elected officials are “limited” in what they can do to address the problem in their own communities. 

“No child should fear going to school in the morning, no parent should fear a trip to the grocery store, and no teenagers should fear walking the streets of their own neighborhood,” the letter states.

Elected officials who have signed the letter include city councilmembers, state senators and representatives, a mayor, and Sunnyside Unified School District board member Daniel Hernandez – the former intern credited with saving Representative Gabby Giffords’ life.

The full text of the letter is here.