Take a Stand Against Gun Violence

Smith & Wesson 442, left, and Glock 21 guns on display. (AP Photo/The Grand Rapids Press, Cory Morse)

After Congress failed to pass gun control legislation earlier this year, the fight over firearms moved to the states. Some 1,500 pieces of gun legislation have been introduced in state legislatures in response to the deadly mass shootings in Aurora, Colo., and Newtown, Conn. About 10 percent of these bills were passed, with gun-rights bills leading gun-control bills by 74 to 66, according to Reuters.

If you’d like to see gun control laws changed, here are some things you can do.

Honor the lives lost at Sandy Hook Elementary School by making the Sandy Hook Promise.

Get the facts: Learn more about the solutions that reformers would like to see made law —Mayors Against Illegal Guns, Americans for Responsible Solutions, The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and Mothers Demand Action For Gun Sense in America all have suggestions.

Call Congress: In the days after gun control legislation failed to pass in the Senate in April, Mayors Against Illegal Guns wrote on its “Demand Action” website, “if Congress won’t act, we’ll change Congress!” So far 1,000 mayors and 1.5 million supporters have signed on to demand that Congress take action to end gun violence. You can let your congressional representatives know that this is an important issue for you — and one you’ll consider when you vote. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives have online directories of their members’ office numbers. Mayors Against Illegal Guns also offers to call you first and walk you through critical talking points, then connect you to your Senator’s office.

In your state: Twenty-one states have enacted new laws to curb gun violence, according to the 2013 State Gun Laws Scorecard released on Monday by the Brady Campaign and the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. See an analysis of gun laws in your state, how it compares to others and contact your governor to ask for action.

In your city: More than 1,000 mayors are members of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns coalition. Find out if your mayor is involved, and if not, recruit your mayor.