Add Your Voice to Others Who Support Gun Control
Thank you for wanting to make a difference in the area of gun violence in our country.
The samples on this page provide examples of the language you can use to call or write your own letters. They can be easily adapted to legislation at any level of government - in Tennessee, Kentucky, or nationwide.
While there are broad, nationwide movements to address this issue, we wanted to make you aware that it is imperative that Tennessee holds the Special Called Special Session that Governor Lee proposed this spring to move gun reform forward.
The sample below can be used to write a letter or email, make a phone call, or complete a response for a request made by the Tennessee legislature to make a public comment at this link.
Feel free to use language from the sample letters below to write your own!
Governor Lee Letter/Call Template
_______________________________
Date
Dear Governor Lee,
I am encouraged to see you taking steps toward common sense gun laws in Tennessee in the support you gave for “Extreme Risk Protection Orders.” It is imperative that we hold the Special Session on August 21st. We cannot delay in making our children and communities safer.
As a member XXXX Church and a person of faith in The United Methodist tradition, we believe that the answer to gun violence includes “prohibiting all individuals under restraining order due to threat of violence from purchasing a gun; prohibiting all individuals convicted of violent crimes from purchasing a gun for a fixed time period; prohibiting persons with serious mental illness, who pose a danger to themselves and their communities, from purchasing a gun; and ensuring greater access to services for those suffering from mental illness (United Methodist Book of Resolutions #3428).”
Having measures like these in place could make a large impact in preventing this all too common event of mass shootings in our state.
(Insert your comments here including if you happen to be a gun owner.)
I implore you to keep our children and communities safe and support these measures.
Sincerely,
_______________________________________
Name
_______________________________________
Address
_______________________________________
Address
Legislator Letter/Call Template
_____________________________________
Date
Dear _______________________________
I am (writing) (calling) to express my support for an “Extreme Risk Protection Order” which would allow a family member, someone close to an individual, or law enforcement officer to file a petition against someone who is in possession of firearms and poses an imminent risk of harm to themselves or others. This individual would have the opportunity to be heard in court over this matter and the court would have to make specific findings of fact that the individual did pose a risk. This is a protection we already have in place for victims of domestic violence and maintains second amendment rights.
As a member XXXX Church and a person of faith in The United Methodist tradition, we believe that the answer to gun violence includes “prohibiting all individuals under restraining order due to threat of violence from purchasing a gun; prohibiting all individuals convicted of violent crimes from purchasing a gun for a fixed time period; prohibiting persons with serious mental illness, who pose a danger to themselves and their communities, from purchasing a gun; and ensuring greater access to services for those suffering from mental illness (United Methodist Book of Resolutions #3428).”
Having measures like these in place could make a large impact in preventing this all too common event of mass shootings in our state.
(Insert any of your own comments here, including if you happen to be a gun owner)
I implore you to support the August 21 Special Session and these measures in order to keep our children and communities safe.
Sincerely,
_______________________________________
Name
_______________________________________
Address
_______________________________________
Address
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