This week the Senate and House of Representatives will vote on several pieces of legislation which could have serious consequences for survivors of domestic violence. They need to hear from you today on these critical issues!
 
Firearms Legislation
Both the Senate and House of Representatives are weighing two firearms bills that have serious implications for survivors’ safety. One will make survivors safer – the Fix NICS Act, and one undermines both survivor safety and public safety – the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act. The Fix NICS Act would improve the National Instant Criminal Records Background Check System. The Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act would make it easier for individuals, including convicted abusers, who are prohibited from getting a concealed carry permit in their home state, to simply cross the border into a state with weaker laws and get a license to conceal a firearm.
 
Action: Call your Senators and Representatives today and urge them to support the FIX NICS Act and to oppose the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act.
 
Tax Bill
The Senate is also expected to vote this week on the tax bill, which will likely lead to reduced funding for victim services and other safety net programs and reduced access to healthcare, as well as increasing the tax burden of lower and middle income survivors working to rebuild their lives.
 
Action: Call Senators Feinstein and Harris and urge them to oppose this bill.
 
Senators

• Senator Feinstein’s Office: (202) 224-3841
• Senator Harris’ Office: (202) 224-3553

 Sample call script:
Hello, my name is (name) from (organization) in (city) and I’m calling to urge Senator (Harris/Feinstein) to vote no on the tax bill because it could be harmful to survivors of domestic violence through federal funding cuts, the repeal of the individual mandate and an increased tax burden on lower and middle-income families. I urge the Senator to support the Fix NICS Act, which would help prevent tragedies like the one in Sutherland Springs, Texas earlier this month by improving the National Instant Criminal Records Background Check System. I urge the Senator to oppose the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, which would allow individuals, including convicted abusers who are prohibited from getting a concealed carry permit in their home state, to simply cross the border into a state with weaker laws and get a license to conceal a firearm.
 
Thank you.
 
Representatives
For a list of California’s congressional representatives, click here. If you have a question about which congressional district you live in, please click here and enter your zip code.
 
Sample call script:
Hello, my name is (name) from (organization) in (city) and I’m calling to urge Representative ___________ to support the Fix NICS Act, which would help prevent tragedies like the one in Sutherland Springs, Texas earlier this month by improving the National Instant Criminal Records Background Check System. I urge the Representative to oppose the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, which would allow individuals, including convicted abusers who are prohibited from getting a concealed carry permit in their home state, to simply cross the border into a state with weaker laws and get a license to conceal a firearm.
 
Thank you.

Click here for additional background information on the tax bill, the Fix NICS Act and the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act.
 
Thank you for taking action today.