WNDC STATEMENT ON FAILURE OF THE U.S. SENATE TO ENACT GUN VIOLENCE LEGISLATION: SHAME AND DISGRACE

Also, read this Center for American Progress perspective on another reason the Senate Ignored Us: Senate by design empowers the residents of small states at the expense of residents of larger states. Read here.
-Shelly

Mindy and you have done a magnificent job of leadership on gun control so far. While it is true that the goal has not been reached, you are making a difference. We are at least one step closer to the goal. The Senate did not approve the gun control bill. My humble take is that senators from rural, thinly populated states did not vote for it because they expected it to sink in the House. So they may have figured why take action and get booed by their constituents when the House would make it sink anyway.

It is true that the road is long, but every step we take can avoid 15 thousand suicides a year and another 15 thousand murders most of which are not stranger to stranger but by people who know their victims as well as accidental shootings. I am ready to help you in any way I can as a humble follower. As Rev. Martin Luther King said, "We will OVERCOME some day!

Onward and upward! We women can make a difference, a BIG difference. We are very PROUD our your leadership and hard work!
Warm regards,
-Adarsh

We must stay together and plan. As the President said "This is not over." I personally think the disgraceful behavior of the Senate will have CONSEQUENCES! -Betsy

Right back to you, Sister. Thank you for all your efforts in keeping the Gun Violence Prevention Legislation information and action flowing, current and useful. In some instances, I was able to simply adopt what I received from you into a format I then sent to my mailing list of friends and family. And the alert yesterday morning about the timing of the Senate vote was invaluable. I shot out another quick eblast reminding folks to call their Senators. Without your considerable efforts in staying on top of this moving object, I and many others would not have been adequately informed, would not have known of the unfolding developments and would likely have missed the opportunity for input. I am completely flabbergasted by yesterday's Senate action, yet want you to know how invaluable your service to this cause and the people it serves has been.
Thank you so much Shelly ~
-Pamela

I wonder if there may be a reason/reasons why "we" can't be as committed -because most of us are really not single issue voters or donors, or at least have not been until now on this issue -- and because we do not profit from the status quo.

Of course, it's also true we are fighting uphill on this Congressional structure (campaign funding, fillibuster, gerrymandering, et al.) as well as particular...

Brava to Shelly and all --
we shall persist, and some of this effort may also spill over into other positives.
-Elaine

The truth is that many people failed to take action. I would think that by now people in this country understood that they are the only ones that can change this situation, because their legislators prefere to listen to special interests. They know people are busy with their lives. Also, most people want to have these laws passed, but do not take the time to flood Congress with letters.

I have spoken with people whom I had sent the letter to forward it to Congress and when I saw them and asked them if they had sent it, they say "no, I did not". I was very angry. If legislators have heard from most of their constituents, I am sure they would have thought about the consequences, had they voted against people's wishes.

Very discouraging,
-Marie Vela

If you're a DC resident, your hands are tied. We have no one, no representative to contact, which prevents us from making ourselves heard. (Eleanor Holmes Norton doesn't count.) Moreover, reps and sens give far less weight to constituents outside their districts or states, so again we are left mute and powerless.

The GOP-favoring gerrymandering doesn't help nor do the current filibuster super majority rules.

I contributed a ton of money and signed a bunch of petitions, as did everyone else, I am sure. Our system is broken and we are all paying the price.

The NRA is a bigger threat to our nation's well-being than all the terrorist orgs combined.

Apologies for venting.
-Susan

Ladies,

First of all, I'd like to applaud to all of you who've done an amazing job as activists.

I regret not getting involved more in the activities due to my commitment to school, interning in WNDC and working on a few other projects. However, I was following everything you did and was inspired by your motivation and persistence.

I came to the US from Serbia almost nine months ago, as an exchange student at American University. Unfortunately, I have to admit that never in my life have I felt that insecure on the streets as I did during my stay in the US. This has been a great burden for me personally, and probably something I shared with many Americans.

I rely my hopes on people of America like you, whose anger and disappointment are the driving forces of changes. Please keep on fighting. I'd like this country to feel more comfortable the next time I come around!

Best regards,
-Marija

I second that--thank you so much, Shelley for all you've done, and continue to do! And for my part, thanks to everyone else who has participated in their own way. Notwithstanding the result of yesterday's vote, I think we have made a difference. I think we have all learned that remaining vigilant and involved is important, because, to paraphrase Karen Tumulty, the gun rights activists and the NRA are more passionate and committed than the other side. I would add "until now" to the end of that sentence. There's no reason why we can't be as committed.
Thanks so much again,
-Fatima

Thanks for your hard work....and it will surely continue, as it must!
-Cathi

I want to add my name to those who have said that they greatly appreciate what you and the coalition have done to further prevention of gun violence. The inability of some Senators (and many others) to shake off the yoke of the pro-gun advocates is utterly saddening and heart-aching.

Thanks for your hard work and refusal to give in.
Hugs,
-Alice

I agree that ultimately it is our fund-raising system for elective office that is the real worm in the apple. But, unfortunately, since Citizens United, it is much worse than ever before. Thanks to Citizens United and its giving all power it can to the .1 percent, we are verging on ceasing to be a democracy.  And until the Senate restores reasonable filibuster rules, Obama will not be able to get a decent Supreme Court justice to replace the next one who retires or dies. I think Obama ought to make sure that NOTHING Harry Reid wants happens until Reid fixes the filibuster abuse problem. Even some Republicans could be part of that effort because they hope someday to have a majority again, and might want to pass some legislation instead of continuing to have permanent Senatorial disarray.

Similarly the current House practice of insisting on a majority of a majority before anything comes to the floor has prevented a majority of the House from getting to vote on legislation again and again. That needs to be tackled too but the Senate -- which confirms all major federal office appointments --is more crucial.
-Judith

Thanks so much, Judith. I couldn't have said it better. Count me in!!!!!!

I live in Virginia, and am happy to do what I can on this end, although it looks like both of my Senators voted the right way this time. I"m not sure whether this will always be the case, and I stand ready to jump in again whenever necessary

I have another suggestion (although this is most likely more a long-term proposition) on how to defeat those like the NRA, who do not stand for the will of the American people: do away with the money machine in politics. I believe it's a systemic issue, meaning an overhaul of the whole campaign finance system we presently have. If legislators didn't have to worry about raising funds, they would be not only freer to focus in more detail on the issues (and the people they affect), but more importantly, would be far less susceptible to the influences of special interests. Again, this is a long-term (and undoubtedly larger and more complex), but we are women, and I believe we can do it!
-Fatima

Shelly--so beautiful written and such a sad statement of the state of our country---I am heartsick.
-Marcie

Here is the link to the Giffords op-ed.

A powerful reply, Shelly, though I sorely wish you had no need to write this. David says that Gabby Giffords had a great message in the NY Times this morning but I can't find it.
-Anna