POTUS, prioritize gun violence reduction in your SOTU address!

During your joint address to Congress last year, you promised to “do everything in your power to protect the American people from this epidemic of gun violence.” As gun deaths and injuries reach crisis levels across the country and congressional Republicans continue to block lifesaving legislation, I urge you to live up to your words and prioritize gun violence reduction in your SOTU address. With nearly 50,000 Americans dead as a result of gun violence since your administration came to power, survivors and impacted communities want you to act boldly by announcing a real plan of action to reduce gun deaths at the State of the Union. Such a plan must include: A federal office of gun violence prevention and a Director of Gun Violence Prevention to streamline the federal, state, and local government’s efforts to reduce violence, recognize gun violence as a national security crisis and a public health and prevention priority, and establish a long-term sustained effort to reduce gun deaths. A commitment to prioritize $5 billion in funding for community programs that help disrupt cycles of interpersonal gun violence and ensure that such funding is  included in must-pass legislation. The nomination of a new director to head the ATF who will effectively regulate gun manufacturers and dealers and guide ongoing efforts to reduce firearm trafficking. Use the presidential bully pulpit to actively engage with Congress on the issue, take additional executive actions to reduce gun violence, including the promotion of safe firearm storage practices, travel to impacted communities, and unveil a comprehensive plan to reduce all forms of gun violence. I urge you to lay out a concrete plan of action for saving lives at the State of the Union Thanks.