Americans are in the midst of a gun violence epidemic. The National Emergencies Act gives the president the power and responsibility to declare a state of emergency when the government lacks the procedures and capacity to address an unchecked natural or man-made public health epidemic.

How much more must Americans endure? Domestic military installations have been attacked; media members have been murdered on camera. Shootings have recently occurred at church prayer meetings, in movie theaters, restaurants, department stores, offices, factories, schools, colleges, national parks and while driving along major US highways.

We ask that you declare a state of emergency to protect us from the gun violence epidemic now. The public space has become Russian roulette--every place is a potential risk. When the H191 flu hospitalized 20,000 people and killed 1,000, you used your power and declared a state of emergency.

Yearly, The Gun Violence Epidemic Causes: [i]

10,000 homicides, 70,000 wounded, 18,000 suicides,

2,000 accidental deaths

Costs of the Gun Violence Epidemic:

Annual: $229 Billion, Each Homicide = $441,000,

Hospitalization = $583,000

The Government cannot stop the Gun Violence Epidemic without information:

Under existing law, states do not have to report prohibited gun purchasers to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS)— In many states 90% of mental health records are missing.[ii]

—Millions of people with mental disabilities have purchased guns. We do not know who they are. Nor do we know who has developed mental illness since buying a gun.

—Guns sold at gun shows, over the internet or through private sales do not require a background check. These represent 40% of the guns sold,[iii] and we do not know if these people should be prohibited purchasers

Countries with strong gun laws and our national statistics show "law- abiding" citizens cause most gun violence. Only 7% to 8% of US gun homicides are gang based -- most mass shooters are legal gun owners. [iv]

Rather than attracting gun crime "gun-free zones" repel it. That is why courts and the headquarters of all major U.S. corporations (including the NRA) ban guns.

Remedy: Declare a National State of Emergency and, among other things, consider:

1. The requirements and standards for people to be carrying guns outside their homes.

2. That parents who own guns be held accountable as accomplices for gun violence their children cause with the parent's guns.

3. That gun trafficking be made a felony to reduce the gun violence epidemic in the inner cities.

4. Appointing a commission to address this epidemic, such commission to exclude members of the gun lobbies, who profit from the epidemic they’ve caused and do everything they can to keep it going.

Clearly, our government does not have the resources, procedures and data to stop the next Aurora, Charleston and Chattanooga.

President Trump: Use Your Power Today to Halt the Gun Violence Epidemic. Declare a National State of Emergency!



[i] http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/04/true-cost-of-gun-violence-in-america

[ii] Feasibility Study Size, Scope and Costs of Projects Required to Close Information Gaps In Reporting Events Legally Prohibiting the Ownership and Purchase of Firearms. Prepared for the Illinois State Police November 2, 2009

[iii] http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/jul/25/michael-bloomberg/mayor-michael-bloomberg-says-40-percent-guns-are-s/

[iv] https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2013/crime-in-the-u.s.-2013/offenses-known-to-law-enforcement/expanded-homicide/expanded_homicide_data_table_11_murder_circumstances_by_weapon_2013.xls