As most of you know by now, the Senate voted down four measures to expand background checks. Update, 7:33pm, Wednesday night: There is a bipartisan effort on the table, proposed by Susan Collins. The House is participating in a sit-in, but the Republicans are refusing to broadcast this, and refusing to take the issue to a vote because they deem it a “publicity stunt.”

Tuesday morning, I called my senators, trying to glean information about what was happening. During this, I had a conversation with a man by the name of Kenny at Jeanne Shaheen’s office. According to him (not speaking for the senator), there is a lack of willingness to compromise; congresspeople are also nervous to vote for anything divisive because they are up for re-election in November. The rest of the conversation went like this:

“Can I take down a message for the senator?”

“Sure. My name is Julie K_____.”

“And are you calling with an organization?”

“No, just an upset citizen. An upset, queer citizen, if you want to write that down.”

So, I’m angry, and I’m upset, and I’ve called countless offices this morning, walked into the social studies department at school, and finally, I’m writing this. What can happen? What can change things?

The Senate or House can propose legislation

Now, as we’ve seen, the legislation proposed by the senate got shot down. The house can also propose legislation, but since the house is mostly republican right now, them proposing gun control laws is not likely. There’s a few reasons why they’ve stayed in power, such as gerrymandering, but that’s for another post.

Supposedly, there is a bipartisan effort on the table for vote today. What can you do? Call your senators and make sure they vote for this effort. Again, information is elusive on this, but this bipartisan effort would expand some background checks; in other words, it would help, but not nearly enough.

Newtown’s lawsuit can go to the supreme court

A couple months ago, Newtown was able to sue the gun manufacturers that made the military-style rifle used in the school shooting in CT. From the article:

“Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, who became the state’s leading advocate for gun-control reforms after the Newtown School massacre, said firearms companies should not be allowed blanket immunity from wrongful-death lawsuits.”

If this lawsuit reaches the Supreme Court, and Hillary fills the Supreme Court with liberal judges, we might see a shift in how mass shootings and gun lawsuits are handled. Not a perfect, fast, or all encompassing solution, but something nonetheless.

The house can be re-taken by Democrats, and they can propose/pass gun legislation in 2017.

Again, this is unlikely, but it’s important to remember to VOTE. Keep informed about what you need to vote, where you vote, and spread the word. Laws will try to stop people from voting, and we need to stay cognizant.

Work Stoppage

Now, this is the item I have the least information about, but a coworker told me that nothing would change unless people started refusing to give labor. I’ll be researching this soon and posting when I have more information.

What can YOU do?

Contact your representatives! (links in the bold below!)

I want to stress here, ESPECIALLY if they are republican. Call your reps in your home state, in states you’ve lived in, in the state you live in now. I used my home address when calling NH senators, and my current address when calling Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey. Write them too.

For senators:

Tell them you are FOR gun control laws and expanded background checks. Feel free to use my script:

“Hi, my name is Julie K_______ and I’m calling from ___________. (I wrote my senator _______ last week and I’m glad/disappointed to see that he/she voted for/against the proposed law for expanded background checks). I would like to leave a message for senator ___________ that I support the bipartisan gun control effort.”

If your offices tell you something different (the reps I spoke to either didn’t know or said there wasn’t one), let me know!

For Congresspeople:

Tell them you are a democrat/republican/independent who voted for ________ and you would like to the current bipartisan gun control law be passed in the house. Tell them, if you want, that you would love to vote for _________ but have hesitations if they do not support gun control. One call may make a mark, but if hundreds of a congressperson’s constituents start calling, they are going to get worried about November.

As an upset queer citizen, I am asking you: Please contact your representatives. If you are nervous or worried or still don’t know what to say, facebook me. Comment here. Text me, if you have my phone number. Let’s talk.