This letter from Newtown Action Alliance Chair Po Murray, and signed by more than 80 other gun violence prevention organizations nationwide, as well, was received for publication in The Newtown Bee.

Dear Elected Leaders in America:

On October 2, we woke up to the largest mass shooting in modern American history [Las Vegas strip, October 1]. This demands the greatest response in American history. First, we send thoughts and prayers to the families of those slain and injured. We send thanks to the emergency, law enforcement, and medical personnel who rushed to save lives. And we thank so many in Las Vegas who helped with blood donations, food, water, and comfort to those affected by this horrifying tragedy.

But now is the time to take action to honor those lives and prevent such events from occurring again. We Must #DemandAction and #EndGunViolence.

We demand that American leaders, from the halls of Congress to town council chambers, do everything in their power to ensure that Americans live in communities free from the fear of mass shootings and the everyday carnage that gun violence causes.

Right now, Congress is considering two bills that will make us less safe from gun violence. They should drop these bills permanently. HR 3668, the Sportsmen's Heritage and Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act removes common-sense restrictions on firearm silencers that have protected public safety for the past 80 years. HR 38, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, forces states to recognize all concealed carry weapons permits, despite very lax permitting requirements of many states.

Instead, we ask Congress and states to pass meaningful legislation and smart policies that we know will help prevent mass shootings, such as:

*background checks for sale of all guns;

*ban assault weapons and high capacity magazines;

*repeal of legal shield for the gun industry;

*adequate funding of federal gun violence research.

We owe it to the victims and families affected by this terrible mass shooting to fight for laws we know will be effective. We must honor them with action and keep pushing until we make real and meaningful change in our nation's gun laws.

Sincerely,

Po Murray, NAA Chair

PO Box 3325, Newtown         October 9, 2017

and ~

Amnesty International USA

Arizonans for Gun Safety

AVAAZ

Battle Born Progress in Nevada

Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence united with Million Mom March

Brave New Films

Ceasefire Oregon

CeaseFire Pennsylvania

Children's Firearm Safety Alliance

Cities United

Coalition to Stop Gun Violence

Colorado Ceasefire

Community Justice Reform Coalition

Connecticut Against Gun Violence

Concert Across America to End Gun Violence

CREDO

Delaware Coalition Against Gun Violence

Disciples Home Missions

Doctors for America

Florida Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence

Franciscan Action Network

Gays Against Guns

Georgia Alliance for Social Justice

Global Exchange

Grandmothers Against Gun Violence - Cape Cod

Grandparents Against Gun Violence MO

Greenwich Council Against Gun Violence

GunControlToday

Gun Violence Prevention PAC

Hawaii Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence

Healing 4 Our Families & Our Nation

Heeding God's Call to End Gun Violence

Hoosiers Concerned About Gun Violence

Human Rights Campaign

Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence

Jessi's Message

Joint Action Committee

Louisiana Violence Reduction Coalition

Maine Gun Safety Coalition

March For Racial Justice (M4RJNow)

Marylanders to Prevent Gun Violence

Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence

Michigan Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence

Million Hoodies Movement for Justice

MomsRising

MoveOn.org Civic Action

National Action Network

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

National Council of Jewish Women

National Domestic Violence Hotline

National Network to End Domestic Violence

National Organization for Women(NOW)

New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence

New Yorkers Against Gun Violence

Newtown Action Alliance

North Carolinians Against Gun Violence

Northwest Corner Committee for Gun Violence Prevention (Conn.)

Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence

One Pulse for America

Organizing for Action

PICO Live Free Campaign

Pride Fund to End Gun Violence

Progress Michigan

Progressive Change Campaign Committee

Progressive Congress Action Fund

Protect Minnesota

Rabbis Against Gun Violence

Remembering Darian

Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence

Safe Campus Colorado

Safe Tennessee Project

States United to Prevent Gun Violence

Stop Handgun Violence

Survivors Empowered

Team 26

The Campaign to Keep Guns off Campus

The Faith Community of St Sabina

The Gun Violence Prevention Center of Utah

The Virginia Center for Public Safety

UltraViolet Action

Union for Reform Judaism

Upper East Side for Change

Virginia Gun Violence Prevention Coalition

Vision Quilt

Washington Ceasefire

WAVE Educational Fund

Women Against Gun Violence

Women's March