Prevent the next Ray Rice from using a gun 12SEP14

 
THE video of ray rice beating his fiance (now wife) is disturbing as is the delay in an appropriate response by the NFL. It is disgusting that a "celebrity" has to be involved in something like this for the nation to become aware that 25% of all American women experience domestic violence and 46 women are killed by a domestic / intimate partner with a gun. THAT'S 552 WOMEN A YEAR! Please sign this petition demanding Congress pass this expansion of the Violence Against Women Act / VAWA (S 1290) making it illegal for stalkers and abusers to buy and own guns. If you don't support this, and demand it be passed by Congress, who are you going to blame if the next victim is someone in your family, someone you care about, someone you know? Click the link and please share this petition. 

People may be talking about Ray Rice now, but domestic violence is all too often a hidden crime. 1 in 4 American women experience physical violence from an intimate partner, and every month 46 women are killed by an intimate partner with a gun.

I grew up with guns, am keen on gun safety and believe that responsible gun owners should not have their rights taken away. However, I also believe that background checks are essential and I certainly do not believe violent people should have legal access to guns ~ especially when the consequences are so clear and predictable.

Twenty years ago, Congress passed the landmark Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). October is Domestic Violence Awareness month, but this can't wait.

Tell Congress: Please plug the legislative loopholes and protect all victims of domestic violence NOW by co-sponsoring Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s bill (S. 1290) to prevent stalkers and abusers from buying and possessing guns .

http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/tell-congress-to-protect-1?mailing_id=25140&source=s.icn.em.cr&amp%3Br_by=6827589&r_by=2619399

Congress already expanded VAWA to make it a crime for those convicted of a domestic violence misdemeanor to buy or possess a gun. But we need to expand protection to include women in dating relationships, and to prevent stalkers from owning guns. That's why I am helping States United to Prevent Gun Violence and the Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus to deliver this message to Congress.

Onward,

Diane Russell
Maine State Representative

P.S. If you're a doctor or medical health professional, you may want to sign up to be a part of the National Physicians Alliance gun violence prevention project too.