Choice and lives on the line: Civic action to-do list for 7-9-18

3. Choice is on the line!

A woman’s right to decide if she needs to terminate a pregnancy is well-established, but continually under attack. Today President Trump is planning to announce his nominee for the Supreme Court, who he has promised will overturn Roe v. Wade and the Affordable Healthcare Act. The Administration is also attacking women’s reproductive health by proposing a domestic “gag” rule on health clinics that would prevent healthcare professionals from providing a pregnant woman accurate and complete information. With reproductive healthcare at stake call your Senators and tell them to only support a nominee that will uphold Roe as settled law and submit a comment to regulations.gov to oppose the proposed rule and allow women to make well informed decisions about their lives and their bodies. 

2. Lives are at risk!

The Administration’s immigration and asylum policies are vilifying and harming immigrant families and putting women’s lives at risk who are fleeing horrific intimate partner violence. The “zero-tolerance” policies punish immigrants fleeing their countries, but do nothing to address the conditions of violence and corruption driving them to walk thousands of miles in search for safety. Call your member of Congress and tell them to co-sponsor the Central America Family Protection and Reunification Act (CAFPRA) for a more humane and sensible policy that works to address the needs of victims in their home countries. 

1. Domestic violence links to mass shootings!

There have been twelve mass shootings (where four or more people are injured or killed) in the first eight days of July. They may not have made the national news, but the epidemic of gun violence is constantly simmering below the surface, impacting communities across the country. Domestic violence, stalking, and assault represent common acts of violence in the history of mass shooters. The murders at the Capitol Gazette, Pulse Nightclub, Marjory Stoneman Douglas, and many more have been tied to men who had a history of intimate partner violence. It is past time for Congress to act to restrict domestic abusers and stalkers from owning firearms and ban weapons of war from our communities.