Draft Email/Letter re: Federal Assault Weapon Ban. It is recommended that such a letter be sent to all members of the Judiciary Committee of the U.S. Senate.
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Dear Senator, I am writing to ask that you support H.R. 1808 and vote to report this proposed legislation out of the Senate’s Judiciary Committee with a “do-pass recommendation.” I strongly support this bill, which would ban and criminalize the knowing importation, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession of a semi-automatic assault weapon and large capacity ammunition clips. The proposed ban would be subject to certain limited exemptions, including allowance of the continued possession, sale, or transfer of a grandfathered assault weapon.
This proposed legislation has an additional positive feature of providing funding for state or local governments to implement a buy-back program whereby persons who are willing to surrender a grandfathered assault weapon can be monetarily compensated.
Such a ban previously existed under federal law for a ten-year period that expired in 2004. Since H.R. 1808 was passed by the House of Representatives in late July 2022, it is critical that this legislation be passed by the Senate yet this year to assure it will become law. Assault weapons are offensive military weapons which no one needs for self-defense. They are the weapon of choice for mass shootings since they are such efficient killing machines.
There have been around 550 mass shootings in the U.S. so far in 2022, resulting in the death of 577 persons and nearly 2,300 wounded. Of those, Indiana has experienced around 13 mass shootings in 2022, including most notably the Greenwood Mall shooting in July. Also notable was the tragic mass shooting at the FedEx facility in Indianapolis. While the annual deaths from mass shootings are fewer than from suicides and other types of gun-related homicides, mass shootings by their nature terrorize the public. Banning the weapons most frequently utilized in such horrific events is a common-sensical measure to improve public safety and the public psyche.
Thanks for your consideration. Your affirmative vote will help stop the carnage.
Respectfully yours,
[Name and Contact Information]
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Note: the names of all Senators on the Judiciary Committee are provided below for your information. They are not intended as a part of the draft letter.
Contact | U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont
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U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Members
Senator Dick Durbin, Chair (D-IL)
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA)
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Senator Chris Coons (D-DE)
Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI)
Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA)
Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA)
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Senator Chuck Grassley, Ranking Member (R-IA)
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
Senator John Cornyn (R-TX)
Senator Mike Lee (R-UT)
Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX)
Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE)
Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO)
Senator Tom Cotton (R-AK)
Senator John Kennedy (R-LA)
Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC)
Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)