When news emerged Sunday about the mass shooting in central Texas, social media lit up with comments to this effect: Thoughts and prayers may be well-intended, but they’re not going to help solve the epidemic of gun violence in the U.S.
So how can Americans make a difference? That question may be particularly relevant to Southern Nevadans in the aftermath of the Oct. 1 shooting on the Strip. Now, having seen two more mass shootings since the killing of 58 concertgoers here — the Nov. 1 killing of three people at a Denver-area Walmart, then the murders of 26 churchgoers Sunday in Sutherland Springs, Texas — here are five ways Southern Nevadans can get involved.
• Sign the online petition started by survivors of the Oct. 1 shooting calling on elected officials to pass common-sense measures to curb gun violence. The petitioners’ goals include implementation of the universal background check ballot initiative approved last year by Nevada voters. The initiative would require background checks to be conducted on sales between private individuals online and at gun shows — an extension of current requirements for checks on sales by a licensed gun dealer. But it stalled amid a provision requiring the FBI to perform the checks on private sales, with the FBI saying those checks were the state’s responsibility. Advocates for the measure have pressured Gov. Brian Sandoval and Attorney General Adam Laxalt to forge a solution with federal officials to implement the checks. It’s worth noting that such checks would have been immaterial in the Oct. 1 shooting, as Stephen Paddock passed background checks for the weapons he purchased. But supporters of the measure argue that Nevadans have spoken — particularly in Clark County, where the measure passed by a wide margin — and demand that the checks be extended. The petition can be found here.
• Sign up to volunteer for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a group affiliated with the national organization Everytown for Gun Safety. Moms Demand Action has members working in all 50 states to promote gun safety legislation, education and awareness. Think Mothers Against Drunk Driving, but with guns. Get more information here.
• Contact congressional leaders (see list below) and urge them to press for a ban on bump stocks, the aftermarket accessories that Paddock used to fire his semiautomatic rifles essentially like machine guns. Bills banning the stocks have been introduced in Congress, but action has stalled due partly to indecision over whether the matter would be handled best by regulatory review or by legislation. Amid the lag, concerns have grown that gun-rights advocates will find a way to derail the effort. Contacting congressional leaders can help keep up the pressure.
• Talk to neighbors, family members and friends. Chances are, you’ll realize you’ve got support in wanting to tighten the nation’s gun laws. Polls conducted by Quinnipiac University and Politico/Morning Consult shortly after the Oct. 1 shooting showed that Americans overwhelmingly supported such policies as a ban on sales of assault-type weapons and bump stocks, as well as universal background checks.
• Before voting for a candidate or volunteering for his or her campaign, find out if the candidate supports reasonable gun policies.
• • •
Congressional and state leadership contact information:
Congress
Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev.
Las Vegas
8930 W. Sunset Road
Suite 230
Las Vegas, NV 89148
Phone: 702-388-6605
Reno
Bruce Thompson Federal Building
400 S. Virginia St.
Suite 738
Reno, NV 89501
Phone: 775-686-5770
Washington, D.C.
324 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: 202-224-6244
Online email form: https://www.heller.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact-form
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev.
Las Vegas
333 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Suite 8016
Las Vegas, NV 89101
Phone: 702-388-5020
Reno
400 S. Virginia St.
Suite 902
Courthouse and Federal Building
Reno, NV 89501
Phone 775-686-5750
Washington, D.C.
B40A Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: 202-224-3542
Online email form: https://www.cortezmasto.senate.gov/content/contact-senator
Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev.
Las Vegas
495 South Main St., Third Floor
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Phone: 702-220-9823
Washington, D.C.
2464 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: 202-225-5965
Online email form: https://titus.house.gov/contact/email-me
Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nev.
Reno
5310 Kietzke Lane, Suite 103
Reno, NV 89511
Phone: 775-686-5760
Washington, D.C.
332 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: 202-225-6155
Online email form: https://amodei.house.gov/email-me/
Rep. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev.
Las Vegas
8872 S. Eastern Ave., Suite 210/220
Las Vegas, NV 89123
Phone: 702-963-9500
Washington, D.C.
413 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: 202-225-3252
Online email form: https://rosen.house.gov/contact/email
Rep. Ruben Kihuen, D-Nev.
Las Vegas
2250 Las Vegas Blvd. North, Suite 500
North Las Vegas, NV 89030
Phone: 702-963-9360
Washington, D.C.
313 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-9894
Online email form: https://kihuen.house.gov/contact/
• • •
State
Gov. Brian Sandoval
Las Vegas
Grant Sawyer State Office Building
555 E. Washington Ave, Suite 5100
Las Vegas, NV 89101
Phone: 702-486-2500
Carson City
State Capitol Building
101 N. Carson Street
Carson City, NV 89701
Phone: 775-684-5670
Online email form: http://gov.nv.gov/Contact/Email-the-Governor/
Attorney General Adam Laxalt
Las Vegas
Office of the Attorney General
Grant Sawyer Building
555 E. Washington Avenue, Suite 3900
Las Vegas, NV 89101
Telephone: 702-486-3420
Carson City office
Office of the Attorney General
100 North Carson Street
Carson City, NV 89701
Telephone: 775-684-1100
email: [email protected]