END GUN VIOLENCE FALL & WINTER 2018 TOOLKIT - Amnesty International USA
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END GUN VIOLENCE © Getty FALL & WINTER 2018 TOOLKIT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
#ENDGUNVIOLENCE
Introduction
Letter to the Activist 03
Learn About Gun Violence and Human Rights
Beyond the Headlines – Different Types of Gun Violence Explained 06
Gun Violence & Human Rights 10
Gun Violence & the Second Amendment 14
What Amnesty International is Calling For 15
Engage Your Community on Gun Violence as a Human Rights Crisis
Hosting Community Discussions 17
Educating Your Elected Officials 20
Take Action on Urgent Fights
Why These Bills Are Important 21
Actions You Can Take Nationwide 22
Actions You Can Take If You Live in Illinois, Ohio, or Michigan 26
Materials
How to Request Materials for Your Table/Event 27
Talking Points for Letters to the Editor 27
Petitions to the Governors 30
Fact Sheets 36
Safety Issues & Tips 39
End Gun Violence | Fall & Winter 2018 Toolkit p2
"There is an urgent need for better, consistent and coordinated federal and state laws
to address current deficiencies that allow gun violence to flourish."
– The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
© Lauren Murphy, Amnesty International
Dear Activist, U.S. is failing to restrict access to guns for those most
at risk of misusing them, and failing to take effective
Gunfire is in our homes, schools and businesses. steps to reduce gun violence. Our elected officials
It is on the streets of the United States, affecting need to act to protect our human rights.
victims, survivors, families and entire communities. It
is impacting people of every age, race and ethnicity, Amnesty International is joining millions of people in
religion, sexual orientation, gender and gender the United States to demand real change – and we're
identity. It is harming people whether they live in a asking our supporters to join us. Right now there are
city, suburb or rural community; whether they are rich crucial and urgent battles happening at the state level
or living in poverty. in Illinois, Ohio and Michigan. These are three states
where our activists can make a difference right now.
According to the report Human Rights in the Line In 2019, we will expand our campaign to states and
of Fire, which Amnesty International USA has just cities outside this current list. Together, we can help
published, gun violence is a human rights crisis. The end gun violence.
End Gun Violence | Fall & Winter 2018 Toolkit p3
TAKE ACTION TO
#ENDGUNVIOLENCE WAYS TO ACT
1.
Learn About
Gun Violence &
Human Rights
2.
Engage Your
Community on
Gun Violence as a
Human Rights Crisis
3.
Take Action on
Urgent Fights
End Gun Violence | Fall & Winter 2018 Toolkit p4
© Amnesty International
HOW TO
GET INVOLVED
© AI Netherlands
This toolkit highlights three ways to get involved:
complicated issue through a universal human rights
(1) Educate yourself and your group; (2) Educate
lens. The human rights framework is rarely referenced
and engage your community; and (3) Take action on
in the news, but we believe that using it could help find
urgent legislative fights in two states.
common ground at a time when a lot of conversation
If you live in a community directly impacted by high around ending gun violence comes from entrenched
levels of gun violence, it may be crucial for you to political divisions.
focus your activism on what's happening in your own
How: Read "Beyond the Headlines – Different Types of
backyard. This toolkit suggests actions to engage your
Gun Violence Explained" on p6-9 for an introduction
community, including local elected officials, on why
to core issues within the gun violence crisis in the
gun violence should be considered a human rights
United States and "Gun Violence and Human Rights"
issue.
on p10-13 to learn about the human rights framework
on gun violence. For more information, check out
1 EDUCATE YOURSELF
Amnesty International's full report on gun violence in
the U.S, Human Rights in the Line of Fire.
Trauma Warning: The following content includes
Why: Educating yourself on this issue is critical, statistics and descriptions that may be intensely
especially if you haven't personally experienced the personal, especially for people who have been directly
impacts of gun violence. affected by gun violence.
It is also important even if you feel familiar with This section is intended to provide our supporters with
the subject because of frequent news coverage, tools to educate themselves on the issue – a critical
because Amnesty International is approaching this step in our campaign.
End Gun Violence | Fall & Winter 2018 Toolkit p5
BEYOND THE HEADLINES
DIFFERENT TYPES OF GUN VIOLENCE EXPLAINED
© Getty
COMMUNITY GUN VIOLENCE
Gun homicides impact black and latino communities programs, tailored towards specific social, economic
– especially young black men – at rates that are and cultural contexts, and by working in partnership
especially high. While African Americans represented with the affected communities.
approximately 13% of the U.S. population in 2016,
they made up 58.5% of gun violence nationwide and
a black male aged 15-34 was almost 20 times more SUICIDE
likely to die from firearm homicide than a white male
of the same age group. In no way should this imply In 2016, 22,938 people in the U.S. died from suicide
that communities of color are prone to violence. by firearm – more than 62 a day. Evidence shows that
suicide with a gun is the most common and by far the
Gun violence and the toll it takes on communities of deadliest suicide method of self-harm. While personal
color in urban settings is the symptom of a bigger autonomy is central to human dignity, individuals
problem: the failure of our government – at every attempting suicide may be doing so because they are
level – to address institutional racism. Without jobs, in a momentary acute crisis which may affect their
investment in at-risk communities, adequately- ability to make an irreversible decision to end their
funded and resourced violence reduction and youth life.
mentorship programs, and other support networks
and services that can provide stability, gun violence The government should ensure that health workers are
remains prevalent. able to discuss all factors impacting their patients'
health and safety – including possession and use of
The U.S. must work to reduce these high levels of firearm guns. This is why Extreme Risk Protection Orders,
violence in low income and minority communities and and similar laws, which provide a mechanism for the
to address the long-term socio-economic impact of this police, health care providers, and/or family to petition
violence. In addition to taking "due diligence" steps to a court to temporarily remove guns from an individual
reduce and prevent gun violence, this can be done, in that they believe is a risk are so important – and must
part, by implementing sustained, adequately-funded, be used in a manner consistent with human rights
evidence-based gun violence reduction and prevention protections.
End Gun Violence | Fall & Winter 2018 Toolkit p6
© Itzel Plascencia López / Amnistía Internacional México
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE YOUTH
Around 4.5 million American Gun violence impacts youth in their homes, neighborhoods and schools,
women alive today have been whether through unintentional or violence acts, or as a mechanism for
threatened by an abuser with self-harm. In 2016, 1,637 children died from gun-related homicides,
a gun; 1 million of those have unintentional shootings or suicide in the U.S.; and, according to a 2017
been shot and injured or shot at CDC study, an average of 5,790 kids are treated in emergency rooms for gun-
without injury. related injuries every year. States with the highest rates of gun ownership
also have the highest rates of gun death, including among children.
Federal law loopholes allow
dating partners, those convicted Even if a child survives a gun-related incident, long-term exposure to gun
of misdemeanor stalking, and violence can lead to numerous developmental problems. Children raised
those subject to temporary or in turbulent and violent climates, whether related to domestic violence,
permanent restraining orders to physical abuse, or community violence, may be more likely to engage in
purchase and possess firearms. violence and anti-social behavior throughout their lives. They are also more
Even when safeguard do exist, susceptible to mental health issues such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress
they are often not enforced. disorder and depressions.
For example, 35 states and
Washington, D.C. prohibit people
subject to domestic violence-
related restraining orders from
possessing guns, but only 27 of
those states also explicitly require
these gun owners to give up the
gun they already have. The U.S.
must close all these loopholes and
establish regulations to ensure
that domestic abusers cannot
purchase or possess firearms.
Domestic violence also occurs
within the LGBTI community,
and it's critical that when closing
loopholes, LGBTI relationships
are also taken into equal account.
© Rusty Stewart / Amnesty International
End Gun Violence | Fall & Winter 2018 Toolkit p7
POLICE USE OF LETHAL FORCE
Nearly 1,000 individuals are also killed The amount of force must be proportionate
each year by law enforcement officials (state to the seriousness of the harm it is aiming to
actors) with firearms. African Americans are prevent, and designed to minimize damage
disproportionately impacted by the police using and injury. Officers may use firearms only as
firearms. a last resort when strictly necessary to protect
themselves or others against the imminent threat
In 2017, 987 people were killed in confrontation of death or serious injury. The intentional lethal
with law enforcement officials, 223 (23% of the use of firearms is justified only when "strictly
total) were African American despite making up unavoidable in order to protect life."
only 13% of the population.
For more detailed information, see Amnesty
International human rights standards provide International's report, Deadly Force: Police Use
that law enforcement officers should only use of Lethal Force in the United States.
force when there are no other means that are
likely to achieve the legitimate objective.
End Gun Violence | Fall & Winter 2018 Toolkit p8
© Getty
© Getty
MASS SHOOTINGS
Mass shootings are typically defined as shootings schools, concert-venues, and movie theaters.
where four or more victims are killed. Between More than half of mass shootings between
2009 and 2016 there were 156 mass shootings January 2009 and July 2015 arose out of
in the U.S., in which a total of 848 people were domestic disputes, which occur when an
killed and 339 injured. Public mass shootings offender kills 4 or more family members.
account for less than 1% of gun deaths in the
U.S. However, mass shootings have a profound The solutions to addressing mass shooting
emotional and psychological effect on survivors, incidents are the solutions that have been
family members and their communities, and identified as ways to prevent other acts of gun
have created an environment in which people violence, see "What AIUSA is Calling For" on
feel unsafe in public places including churches, p15.
End Gun Violence | Fall & Winter 2018 Toolkit p9
GUN VIOLENCE &
HUMAN RIGHTS
© Amnesty International
ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS
Human rights are freedoms and protections that belong a solid framework for national, regional and local
to every single one of us. They are based on principles legislation designed to improve lives around the world.
of dignity, equality, and mutual respect – regardless Human rights obligations can be seen as standards
of age, nationality, gender, race, beliefs and personal for governments, through which governments or state
orientations. officials must respect, protect and fulfil the rights of those
within their jurisdictions and also abroad. Human rights
Human rights are universal – they belong to all of us; obligations are not luxuries that can be met only when
everybody in the world. They are inalienable – they cannot practicalities allow.
be taken away from us. And they are indivisible and
interdependent – they are all of equal importance and are In the U.S., persistent gun violence is denying people
interrelated. their civil and political rights including their right to life,
to security of person and to be free from discrimination.
Since the atrocities committed during World War II, Gun violence also undermines the enjoyment of economic,
international human rights instruments, beginning with social and cultural rights, including the right to health and
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, have provided the right to education.
End Gun Violence | Fall & Winter 2018 Toolkit p10LIFE AND PERSONAL SECURITY HEALTH AND EDUCATION
The government has the obligation to protect our right Gun violence is happening in communities that
to life and right to personal security – rights enshrined suffer from a lack of access to public services and
in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the ineffective and abusive policing. Gun violence in
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, many communities prevents us from enjoying our full
which the U.S. signed and ratified. range of human rights – including our rights to health
and education.
The U.S. government has an obligation of "due
diligence" to protect these rights – it must take
effective measures to address actual or foreseeable For people living in communities with high levels of
threats to our lives, including the threat of gun gun violence, the physical and emotional toll of the
violence. The government's obligation to protect us trauma from shootings is long-lasting. Gun violence can
goes beyond actions by government actors – to the also cause long-term health problems: psychological
threats posed by private individuals and the wider impacts for people who've witnessed shootings, and
community. friends and family. Gunshot survivors can suffer
severe and chronic physical and psychological
The government must address discriminatory violence, effects, sometimes without psychological support or
gender-based violence and the use of guns in suicides physical rehabilitation. Limitations in health care due
and unintentional deaths. The government must also to lack of insurance coverage, closure of healthcare
act with due diligence to prevent, punish, investigate facilities or reductions in funding to direct service and
and redress harm caused by private individuals social service providers have impacted the ability of
and should pay particular attention to those most individuals to seek treatment. Gun violence can make
at risk, particularly individuals and marginalized the trip to school dangerous, damage the learning
communities. environment, and reduce the efficacy of teaching.
End Gun Violence | Fall & Winter 2018 Toolkit p11
© Amnesty InternationalINTERNATIONAL
HUMAN RIGHTS TREATIES
Protecting human rights and ending gun
violence is a U.S. legal obligation.
The U.S. government has either signed or
ratified several international human rights
conventions that guarantee human rights
impacted by gun violence and firearm-
related deaths, including:
• International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights
• International Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination
• Convention on the Elimination on © Amnesty International
All Forms of Discrimination Against
Women ENSURING THE RIGHT TO LIFE AND SECURITY OF PERSON GENERALLY
• Convention on the Rights of the Child
Enforce minimum standards for the regulation of guns – to prevent
• International Covenant on Economic, them being used by private individuals to abuse human rights. These
Social and Cultural Rights measures include:
The U.S. government therefore has a legal • Prohibit guns without a license, and don't authorize a license
obligation to respect, protect and fulfill unless specific criteria are met, including training; a credible
the human rights set out in these treaties justification for possession; a minimum age requirement; the
and to exercise due diligence by taking absence of known risk factors for misuse; and a time limit;
measures to combat actual or foreseeable
• Register guns, including any sale or transfer of them;
threats to these rights, including the right
• Prohibit for public, non-military use of any guns or ammunition
to life.
that represent a high level of risk to public safety and likely to
cause excessive or unintended injury;
WHAT HUMAN RIGHTS LAW REQUIRES • Make it a criminal offense to have an unlicensed gun;
• Require gun owners and dealers to secure their guns; and
In our recent report, Human Rights in • Fund research on the patterns of gun violence, to inform evidence-
the Line of Fire, Amnesty International based policies to reduce violence.
highlighted two major and related
responsibilities of the government: It must Amnesty International activists are also working to hold law
restrict access to guns for people most at enforcement officers accountable for human rights abuses in policing,
risk of misusing them; and, in situations and pressing for federal reforms; see our resources on police use of
of persistent gun violence, it must take deadly force.
effective steps to reduce the violence and
protect people. CONTEXT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Here are some key minimum steps that The government needs to explicitly link laws, policies and practices on
all governments, including the U.S. domestic violence with those on access to guns. In cases where there
government, must take in order to comply is a history of actual or threatened violence this includes prohibiting
with their human rights obligations: access to guns, suspending gun licenses, and removing guns.
End Gun Violence | Fall & Winter 2018 Toolkit p12PREVENTING/REDUCING SUICIDES AND UNINTENTIONAL DEATHS • programs, involving active partnership with
community leaders, law enforcement, and
The government must restrict access to guns by local authorities – with sustained and adequate
those at risk of self-harm and take other measures funding.
to reduce the risk of unintentional deaths, including • Ensure full non-discriminatory access to
through: economic, social and cultural rights, including
health care, education, employment, housing
• Rigorous background checks;
and water; and
• Waiting periods for buying guns and ammunition;
• Address the physical and psychological impact
• Safe storage (e.g. keeping firearms unloaded
of gun violence through targeted health care
and under lock and key, or offsite);
provisions.
• Investing in research on gun safety mechanisms;
and RESPONSIBILITY OF GUN MANUFACTURERS, DISTRIBUTORS, AND
• Public education to raise awareness about the DEALERS
dangers of guns in the home.
All companies have a responsibilty to respect human
REDUCING COMMUNITY LEVEL GUN VIOLENCE rights. Companies manufacturing firearms and
ammunition should adopt measures to minimize the
When implementing violence prevention measures
risk that their products are used for human rights
for communities impacted by persistent gun
abuses. Such measures could include:
violence, the government must:
• Working proactively with relevant authorities to
• Implement legislation and take administrative
ensure the implementation of firearms regulations
measures to prohibit the possession of guns and
aimed at violence reductions and prevention;
ammunition by private actors who represent a
• Refraining from lobbying for relaxation of firearms
risk to public safety and protect those at most
regulation, or against initiatives which would
risk of being victims of firearm violence;
reduced firearm violence;
• Support effective human rights-compliant
• Taking a proactive role in jurisdictions with poorly
and accountable law enforcement agencies to
implemented regulation of firearms; and
prevent illegal acts – reducing people's perceived
• Refraining from marketing/promoting products
need to resort to guns to protect themselves;
in such a way that might encourage misuse of
• Adopt evidence-based violence reduction
firearms.
End Gun Violence | Fall & Winter 2018 Toolkit p13
© Amnesty International (photo: Grace Gonzalez)GUN VIOLENCE &
THE SECOND AMENDMENT
© Getty
"A well regulated Militia,
being necessary to the District of Columbia v. Heller. For the first
security of a free State, the time, the Supreme Court reversed course
and said that the Second Amendment
right of the people to keep protects an individual's possession of a
and bear Arms, shall not be gun – unconnected to service in a militia
for defense of the state. However, the
infringed." court said that it is not an unlimited right,
and reasonable limitations can be placed
– U.S. Constitution, Second Amendment on it.
Some politicians and organizations
have seized on the court's decision
There's fierce debate in the U.S. about in Heller to justify their opposition to
the intended meaning of the Second gun violence prevention measures, but
Amendment. Although for nearly 70 that is misguided. Other than complete
years the Supreme Court interpreted the bans on guns, serious gun violence
Second Amendment as only restricting prevention measures are likely to be
Congress from taking away a state judged constitutional by U.S. courts. As
government's right to self-defense rather a result, despite more than 1,200 Second
than an individual right to possess a gun, Amendment challenges to laws since
that changed in a landmark 2008 case, Heller was decided, courts have upheld
End Gun Violence | Fall & Winter 2018 Toolkit p14WHAT
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
IS CALLING FOR © Lauren Murphy, Amnesty International
Our campaign this year focuses on these issues. STAND YOUR GROUND
Opportunities for activism are described in "Take
Action" on p21: All state legislatures should repeal Stand Your Ground
laws (see "Stop the Dangerous 'Kill At Will' Bill in
Ohio" on p21).
ISSUES FOCUSED ON IN 2018 LEGISLATURES
EXTREME RISK LAW
LOST AND STOLEN GUNS
State legislatures should consider passing legislation
We need laws requiring that all lost and stolen firearms authorizing protection orders providing for the
be immediately reported to local law enforcement temporary removal of access to guns for individuals
officials; and laws requiring gun dealers to lock and who may present a risk of harm to themselves or
store their weapons on their premises and to adopt others – implemented in a manner consistent with
adequate safety measures and precautions (see "Curb international human rights protections (see "Pass the
the Sale of Illegal Trafficked Guns in Illinois" on p21). Life-Saving 'Extreme Risk Law' in Michigan'" on p21).
End Gun Violence | Fall & Winter 2018 Toolkit p15minimum conditions are met: A credible justification for
ADDITIONAL MEASURES FOR CONGRESS, STATE possession; minimum age requirement; and the absence
LEGISLATURES & CITY GOVERNMENTS TO TAKE of known risk factors for misuse.
While our 2018 campaign doesn't focus on these, we GUN REGISTRATION: We need a central national gun registry
encourage you to learn more and educate others about that is digitized and searchable.
these necessary steps to reduce gun violence.
CERTAIN WEAPONS AND AMMUNITION: Congress should ban the
EVIDENCE-BASED COMMUNITY-INVOLVED VIOLENCE REDUCTION AND sale, transfer, and possession of semi-automatic assault
PREVENTION PROGRAMS: should receive sustained funding weapons, large capacity magazines, bump stocks, and
and support from Congress and local governments. State other dangerous devices; in the absence of that, all
and local authorities should consider programs to interrupt state legislatures should repeal laws shielding firearm
violence (trained mediators) and offer alternatives, manufacturers and dealers from liability.
community-based policing, comprehensive youth-
centered treatment and job placement opportunities. MANUFACTURER LIABILITY: All state legislatures should repeal
laws shielding firearm manufacturers and dealers from
ADEQUATE RESOURCES FOR COMMUNITIES: The government liability.
should address specific issues where gun violence
is impeding access to basic services, such as by the RESEARCH: Congress should acknowledge that gun violence
disruption of functioning of schools, the partitioning of is a public health crisis and fund evidence-based research
neighborhoods by armed criminal gangs limiting access on the causes and effects of gun violence, and gun
to health services, or the intimidation of staff charged violence prevention.
with providing services. Resources/programs should
SAFE STORAGE: Congress should pass legislation requiring
address the physical and psychological health impacts
the safe and secure storage of all guns and ammunition,
of firearm violence through targeted healthcare response;
and state legislatures should pass stringent and
and prioritize the allocation of public resources to basic
comprehensive safe storage and Child Access Prevention
services and infrastructure in communities where high
laws.
levels of gun violence impact service provision.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: Congress should close all loopholes
BACKGROUND CHECKS: should be required for all gun
in federal law and state legislatures should pass and
purchases and transfers, prior to carrying out any sale or
implement laws establishing a clear process for the
transfer.
immediate surrender by and removal of firearms from
GUN LICENSES: should be required through legislation prohibited abusers.
mandating that firearms may only be obtained for
For further detailed recommendations, please see
purchase or transfer with a valid firearms license. A
Amnesty International's report, Human Rights in the Line
license should not be authorized unless the following
of Fire.
End Gun Violence | Fall & Winter 2018 Toolkit p16
© Lauren Murphy, Amnesty International2 ENGAGE YOUR COMMUNITY GUIDING QUESTIONS
FOR DISCUSSION
YOUR COMMUNITY
What does safety in your
community mean to you?
Do you feel that the government
is doing enough to prevent gun
violence in our community?
How can we create safe space to
support and care for members
of our community who have
experienced gun violence?
HUMAN RIGHTS & GUN VIOLENCE
Where do human rights come
from?
What are the human rights at
stake when we're talking about
gun violence in our community?
© Amnesty International
What are the laws in our city and
state about gun violence? Are
HOST A COMMUNITY DISCUSSION ON GUN VIOLENCE & HUMAN RIGHTS they keeping people safe?
Whether you are a student, parent or community member, you can start Are our government officials
by sharing information with each other about what you are experiencing or aware of their human rights
witnessing, and what is going in your community. This is one of the best ways obligations to protect our
to start organizing and join other community members who also want to act. community against gun violence?
How? Are government officials living up
to these obligations?
1. Recruit people to join your discussion: Fliers and Facebook events are
great ways to promote your event. But remember, the best way to recruit
is the simplest: Ask them! Think about the first time you decided to get
involved with human rights or social justice activism. For many of us, we YOUR COMMUNITY
went to that first meeting because someone asked us directly.
How can we assert our demands
2. Community partners and allies: Who can you involve from other for the protection of our human
organizations or groups? Are there other civic groups, neighborhood rights to life and security?
associations, religious or cultural groups that might share an interest in
coming together? What would it take to organize our
community to demand change in
3. Choose a time and place: Work with the people you know want to be a part city or state laws and practices on
of the discussion to find a time and place that will work. This might be gun violence?
your next (or your first!) Amnesty Group meeting, or it might be a special
event you are hosting. If you’re hosting somewhere other than your home, What resources do we have now,
dorm room, or apartment, make sure to reserve space. Remember, these and what resources would we
are challenging and personal issues, so it is important that the space you need to organize our community
choose, and the space you facilitate is safe, caring, and creative for the to create the change we want to
participants. see?
End Gun Violence | Fall & Winter 2018 Toolkit p171. 1.
2. 2.
3. 3.
4. Set Goals and Create an Agenda: How many people • Take action: Set aside time at the end of the
do you want to participate in the discussion? event or during a break to engage people in an
What do you want to come out of the it? How action from this toolkit – making a phone call
long will it last? You want to find a good balance to a government official, or writing a letter or
between providing information and a dynamic email. Be sure to let us know how many people
space for discussion. It is key to contextualize took action by emailing fieldorganizingteam@
this discussion in your own community. It is also aiusa.org.
important to draw from the knowledge of everyone
in the discussion. 4. Consider inviting elected officials – the mayor's
office, your city councilperson, your state
• Education: Once you know who is likely to representative or congressperson – to the
participate in your discussion, assess whether discussion, and asking them to talk about how
you need to begin the session with education. the laws and why gun violence persists. If you
If your participants are less familiar with do invite them, make sure that all your other
gun violence, you may want to start with participants are aware of and comfortable with
having them read and discuss "Beyond the their attendance.
Headlines – Different Types of Gun Violence
Explained" on p6-9. If your participants are 5. Follow up: Whether the discussions you are
intimately familiar with it – perhaps they hosting are the beginning or the continuation of
have experienced some trauma themselves – your organizing efforts, remember to follow up
you may want to skip this and go directly to with notes and next steps. Keep a sign-in sheet
discussion, or begin by talking through why that gathers names, email addresses, and phone
gun violence is a human rights issue, using numbers (at least!), and ask people to commit to
"Gun Violence & Human Rights" on p10. Once next steps before they leave.
you assess your audience and decide whether
This guidance is adapted from AIUSA's #DeadlyForce
to include an education component consider
Conversations Toolkit, which includes additional
the best way to engage your audience – for
resources on our work on race and policing in the U.S.
example, read the toolkit out loud, together.
© Amnesty International (photographer: Sara Vida Coumans)
End Gun Violence | Fall & Winter 2018 Toolkit p18© Giorgos Moutafis/Amnesty International
TALKING POINTS TIPS FOR FACILITATORS
Use these points to start and guide your discussion. Facilitation is the most important part of being a host. Keep
your discussions safe and participatory.
• Talking about gun violence as a human rights
issue helps us understand our human rights and • Be encouraging: Participation can often be daunting,
empowers us to challenge the government’s failure especially when the topic feels personal or emotional. The
to guarantee it. guiding questions provided are to help begin the discussion,
not limit it. If your participants propose questions to the
• In the U.S., persistent gun violence is denying group, or look to channel the discussion in an unexplored
people their civil and political rights including the direction, be encouraging and supportive. Make sure
right to life, to security of person and to be free everyone who wants to speak has the opportunity to do so.
from discrimination. It undermines the enjoyment
of economic, social and cultural rights, including • Safe Space: Create a safe space for participants. That
the right to health and the right to education. means establishing group norms and making sure everyone
understands and follows them. Group norms could
• Tackling gun violence in the community is a include: confidentiality, assuming positive intent, or taking
complex problem requiring active engagement responsibility for impact vs intention. For more tips, contact
and partnership with all relevant stakeholders -- fieldorganizingteam@aiusa.org.
local authorities, law enforcement, community
leaders and activists should all be involved in the Also think through the following questions:
conversation, with their ideas and perspectives
• How can this space be created for people in this
respected.
group to tell their stories? How can we seek to validate the
• To tackle persistent gun violence, we need long- experiences of others? And use this conversation to begin
term, adequately funded, evidence-based projects to recognize experiences we may have had ourselves?
-- tailored to the specific economic, social and
• The topic of gun violence is painful and personal for
cultural context of the community involved.
many participating in these discussions, so how can we
support everyone to participate fully?
End Gun Violence | Fall & Winter 2018 Toolkit p19EDUCATING LOCAL OFFICIALS
Elected officials on a local, state, or national level Let us know how your call goes by emailing
have an important platform they can use to denounce gunviolence@aiusa.org.
gun violence and push for real reform.
To get in touch with your local Legislative
Your mayor, city council, governor, state legislators, Coordinator to schedule a meeting with your elected
and members of Congress should be educated on gun representatives, please contact grassroots@aiusa.
violence and should understand why it is a human org.
rights issue.
They should hear from you whenever there is national
GUIDANCE REGARDING AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
or local news on gun violence, and you can urge them AND THE 2018 MIDTERMS
to issue press statements or tweets on the importance
of gun violence prevention and why this is a human Amnesty International is a non-partisan human rights
rights issue. organization that neither supports nor opposes any
political party, candidate, government, or political
Use the information in this toolkit to educate local ideology. Amnesty International does not seek to
officials and urge those who are elected to represent influence elections. Because Amnesty International
you to speak out for gun violence prevention. USA (AIUSA) is classified as a “public charity” –
501(c)(3) – by the Internal Revenue Service, there
are certain restrictions on the organization’s actions
TAKE ACTION in relation to elections and political activities.
Ask your local mayor, city council person or state As you engage with other organizations and the
representative to denounce gun violence and meet public, if you are doing so in Amnesty’s name or as
with your group and ally organizations to discuss gun a representative of Amnesty, please remember not
violence and how it is a human right issue. Make a to make statements or sign on to statements that
phone call to ask for the meeting and follow up with suggest we oppose or endorse a particular candidate.
an email. You can find most officials’ phone numbers As an international human rights organization, we
by visiting www.usa.gov/elected-officials. have an obligation to continue to educate the public
during an elections season but we cannot intervene in
Here is a sample script to use when calling: an election. In your personal capacity, you are free to
engage politically without restrictions.
Introduce yourself:
“Hello, my name is [your name] and I live in [city,
state]. I am troubled by the persistence of gun
violence in this country and the government’s
failure to protect my human rights to life and
personal security.
Make the ask:
“I’m calling to ask [official's name] to issue
a statement denouncing gun violence and
describing it as a human rights issue, and to
meet with my group to discuss these matters.”
Follow up:
“Please provide me the name of a contact person
and an email address so that I can follow up.
Thank you for your time.”
© Amnesty International
End Gun Violence | Fall & Winter 2018 Toolkit p203 TAKE ACTION This bill would enable a "shoot first" mentality that
poses a serious danger to public safety. If it passes,
any individual lawfully in a place – not simply their
own home or vehicle, but places like movie theaters
We need your help to either pass or defeat important
and malls – could pull a gun and fire in response to
bills related to gun violence in three states.
practically any circumstance if they are scared – an
Here is a short introduction to each bill. For more incredibly subjective and potentially racially biased
information, see the information sheets on p36-38. emotional response.
CURB THE SALE OF ILLEGAL TRAFFICKED GUNS IN ILLINOIS This bill also includes a provision that would bar
city and municipal leaders from passing life-saving
We need your help to make sure that the Governor of gun ordinances. It would open cities that pass gun
Illinois signs this bill once it arrives at his desk. ordinances to lawsuits from out-of-state special
interest groups, effectively threatening to bankrupt
IL Senate Bill 337 Amendment 3 takes concrete them if they take steps to protect their citizens from
steps to regulate gun dealers in the state of Illinois. gun violence.
Irresponsible gun dealers are a major source of guns
that are used in crimes. They also look the other way Amnesty International is already calling for all states
when their customers buy guns for others or buy them to repeal Stand Your Ground laws for undermining
in bulk so they can illegally resell them. international human rights laws and standards. This
bill would move Ohio in the opposite direction.
This bill would require all gun dealers to be certified
by Illinois State Police, putting common-sense PASS THE LIFE-SAVING "EXTREME RISK LAW" IN MICHIGAN
requirements on dealers and empowering law
enforcement to inspect dealerships. To summarize, it We need the help of supporters in Michigan to make
would: sure that this bill has a chance to pass.
• Effectively require that gun dealership employees This "Extreme Risk Law" would help save lives by
themselves get background checks; giving family members the opportunity to prevent
loved ones from harming themselves or others with
• Require annual training to ensure that dealers and guns.
their employees understand legal requirements;
Family members are often the first to see the warning
• Require gun dealers to develop plans to ensure signs of potential acts of violence. If the court then
the safe storage of firearms to help prevent gun determines that there is reasonable cause to believe
theft; that the individual poses a significant risk of hurting
themselves or others, a protection order is granted to
• Prevent gun dealerships from opening within 500 temporarily transfer their firearms for a period of time
feet of any school or daycare facility. (not to exceed one year).
Current federal law is insufficient to track down and These laws help remove the possibility of lethal force
hold accountable irresponsible gun dealers. This bill being used in instances of homicide and suicide.
will bring Illinois closer to fulfilling the promise of Reducing a suicidal person's access to firearms can
human rights. save their life. The availability of firearms greatly
increases the risk of a fatal outcome during a suicide
STOP THE DANGEROUS "KILL AT WILL" BILL IN OHIO attempt: 85% of firearm suicide attempts end in
death—a far higher rate than other means.
We need your voice to ensure that Governor Kasich
vetoes the "Kill at Will" bill. These types of temporary measure could have a
significant impact on reducing gun deaths in the
This bill is the Trojan Horse of dangerous gun laws.
United States.
The "Kill at Will" bill puts lives at risk by creating an
expansive Stand Your Ground law, allowing a person No matter where you live in the U.S., you can take
to shoot to kill in self-defense without a duty to retreat action on the bills in Illinois and Ohio. Learn what
regardless of their location. actions you can take on these two bills below!
End Gun Violence | Fall & Winter 2018 Toolkit p21© Grzegorz Żukowski
NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE
We need our supporters nationwide to act: the other way when their customers buy guns for
others or buy them in bulk so they can illegally resell
SEND A PERSONAL EMAIL OR LETTER TO THE GOVERNORS OF them.
ILLINOIS (IL) AND OHIO (OH).
They sometimes fail to secure guns in storage,
Send emails to Governor Rauner of Illinois at gov. falsify sale records, and skip background checks. All
goca@illinois.gov or letters at: of these practices fuel gun violence. This legislation
Governor Bruce Rauner regulations gun dealers in ways that have life-saving
Office of the Governor potential.
207 State House
Springfield, IL 62706 This bill would also make communities safer with
common-sense measures like preventing the sale of
Please refer to the following sample message when guns near schools and daycares; and training gun
drafting your appeal. dealers throughout the state, which can help to
identify illegally trafficked guns.
Dear Governor Rauner,
This bill is not a silver bullet but it's a strong start
I am writing to urge you to sign Senate Bill 337, and we implore you to consider its merits. This is
Amendment 3 once it arrives at your desk. This about our parents, our children, our communities--
bill will empower authorities to crack down harder we advocate on behalf of them.
on the sale of illegally trafficked guns within the
state. The nation is looking to Illinois to lead the way:
Will you help save lives by signing Senate Bill 337,
Gun violence is a human rights crisis, and this bill Amendment 3?
would take concrete steps to help curb the sale of
illegally trafficked guns in Illinois. Thank you for your attention.
Negligent gun dealers cause crime and deaths by Sincerely,
contributing to illegal gun trafficking: They look [Your Name]
End Gun Violence | Fall & Winter 2018 Toolkit p22© Marieke Wijntjes / AI
Send emails to Governor Kasich of Ohio at http://bit.ly/ to be free from discrimination. The American Bar
EmailOhio or letters at: Association's 2014 National Task Force found
Governor John Kasich that the application of Stand Your Ground Laws
Riffe Center, 30th Floor is "unpredictable, uneven, and results in racial
77 South High Street disparities."
Columbus, OH 43215-6117 While everyone has the right to self-defense, studies
Please refer to the following sample message when have found that states with Stand Your Ground laws
drafting your appeal. see a 75% increase in justifiable homicides and a
21.7% increase in unlawful homicides. This policy
Dear Governor Kasich, has proven both deadly and ineffective.
I am writing to urge you to keep your promise to veto This bill would endanger lives by creating an
HB 228 and SB 180, known collectively as the "Kill expansive Stand Your Ground law, and would open
At Will" bill. your cities to lawsuits just for passing gun ordinances
to protect Ohioans from gun violence.
Gun violence is a human rights crisis. This law
would put Ohioans' lives at greater risk by creating The nation is looking to your example: Will you keep
an expansive Stand Your Ground law and a punitive your promise to keep Ohioans safe by vetoing HB
preemption provision barring city municipal leaders 228 and SB 180?
from taking steps to address gun violence.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
This bill violates U.S. human rights obligations.
Data indicates that Stand Your Ground laws may Sincerely,
violate not only the right to life but also the right [Your Name]
End Gun Violence | Fall & Winter 2018 Toolkit p23DRIVE PHONE CALLS TO THE IL AND OH GOVERNORS AT YOUR
MEETINGS, TABLINGS OR EVENTS
To make a phone call for Illinois, go here: http://bit.ly/ To make a phone call for Ohio, go here: http://bit.ly/
StopGunTrafficking. OhioKillAtWillBill.
Below is a suggested script, but feel free to personalize. Below is a suggested script, but feel free to personalize.
If you live in Illinois, mention that you are a resident: If you live in Ohio, mention that you are a resident:
Hello, I heard that Governor Rauner will soon Hello, I heard that your office will receive HB 228
receive a bill aimed at stopping illegal gun- soon, aimed at, among other things, creating an
trafficking in the state. I think that this bill will expansive Stand Your Ground law. This dangerous
make Illinois safer, including by cracking down Stand Your Ground law would allow a person to
on the illegal sale of guns within the state, and shoot to kill in self-defense without a duty to
keeping gun dealerships away from our schools. I retreat regardless of their location. You pledged
want to urge the Governor to sign Senate Bill 337 to veto this bill back in February: I’m calling to
Amendment 3. Thank you. urge you to keep that promise, and keep Ohioans
safe. Thank you.
End Gun Violence | Fall & Winter 2018 Toolkit p24
© Amnesty International© Amnesty International
WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Widely-read publications in your city or state offer venues TAKE ACTION ON SOCIAL MEDIA
for readers to publicly express their opinions. A letter to
Sample tweets:
the editor is a great way for you to exercise this option
on your own. Human Rights are under fire. It's time for comprehensive
reform. Join @amnestyusa to help #EndGunViolence.
Before submitting your work, make sure to let us review
http://bit.ly/AIUSAEGV
the letter at gunviolence@aiusa.org.
It's time to invest in our neighborhoods. Because together
Be sure to specifically mention your elected officials
we can #EndGunViolence. http://bit.ly/AIUSAEGV
by name, and call upon them to support gun violence
prevention and treat this as a human rights crisis using You have the right to live. You have the right to move
the talking points on p27. freely around this country without fear. Join the
@amnestyusa movement to #EndGunViolence: http://bit.
If you live in Illinois or Ohio, ask them specifically to
ly/AIUSAEGV
take a stand on the legislation we've described, using
talking points on p28-29. Over 100 people die each day in homes, schools and on
the streets of America. That's more than 33,000 people
Here are tips to follow when writing letters to the editor:
killed each year. It's time to #EndGunViolence. Join @
• Submit your letter early, preferably the same day as amnestyusa: http://bit.ly/AIUSAEGV
the article to which you are responding.
Join a nationwide movement with @amnestyusa to help
• Know your paper's rules for letters. Adhere to their
secure a win for gun violence prevention in Illinois.
word limit; if you send them a letter that's too long,
#EndGunViolence http://bit.ly/SSLaction
you can't expect them to take the time to edit it
down to the proper length. Help @amnestyusa stop the flow of illegally trafficked
• Your letter should not just express agreement guns in Illinois. This bill empowers lawmakers to stop
or disagreement with the thrust of the article, gun dealers from opening next to schools and daycares.
but should add new information or insight that Take action: http://bit.ly/SSLaction #EndGunViolence
contributes to ongoing discussion of the topic. Refer
to the talking points on p27-29. We have the chance to win a major victory for gun
• It's best not to identify yourself as being affiliated violence prevention–right now. Join @amnestyusa in
with Amnesty International in order to avoid any urging Illinois @GovRauner to help stop the sale of
confusion about whether you are officially speaking illegally trafficked guns and prevent new gun dealers
for the organization. from opening near schools and daycares. http://bit.ly/
• A good letter to the editor will: SSLaction
- Immediately reference the article to which it
is responding You may also tweet at Governor Kasich at @JohnKasich
- Express agreement or disagreement and urge him to veto HB 228, the dangerous
- Add new information #KillAtWillBill. Use the hashtag #EndGunViolence and
- Make a call to action tag @amnestyusa.
End Gun Violence | Fall & Winter 2018 Toolkit p25IF YOU LIVE IN ILLINOIS were committed with firearms, according to the
Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Take all of the actions described above, but instead of
writing a letter to the editor (LTE) about gun violence in Access to a firearm triples the risk of death by suicide
general, write about the Illinois bill specifically. See p28 and Extreme Risk Laws can have a significant impact
for LTE talking points about this bill. on reducing gun death in the United States. HB 4706
promotes Extreme Risk Laws and would guarantee the
human right to life for your constituents.
IF YOU LIVE IN OHIO
Specifically, HB 4706 would give close family
Take all of the actions described above, but instead of members and law enforcement the ability to petition
writing a letter to the editor (LTE) about gun violence in a court for an extreme risk protection order in the
general, write about the Ohio bill specifically. See p28 for event of a potential act of future violence. The
LTE talking points about this bill. protection order prohibits the restrained individual
from possessing or purchasing a gun for a period of
IF YOU LIVE IN MICHIGAN up to one year.
Failing to hold a hearing on this issue will signal to
After consulting with local partners in Michigan, we
the public that you do not recognize the gravity of this
determined that we are most likely to win by only having
problem or that you are ignoring your obligation as
supporters who live in Michigan take action on this
an elected official to do everything in your power to
particular bill. We are asking Representative Runestad,
protect the lives of your constituents.
who is chair of the MI House Judiciary Committee, to
hold a hearing on this bill so it can move forward. Your constituents deserve a chance to weigh in.
Please hold a hearing on HB 4706.
If you live in Michigan, take all the actions above, but
then take actions specifically for this bill. See p29 for Thank you for your consideration.
talking points about this bill:
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
• Send emails to Rep. Runestad at JimRunestad@
house.mi.gov or letters at:
• Drive phone calls to Rep. Runestad at your
Representative Jim Runestad meetings, tablings or events. Visit here to make
Anderson House Office Building a phone call: http://bit.ly/SaveLivesMichigan.
MN-893 House Office Building Below is a suggested script, but feel free to
P.O. Box 30014 personalize.
Lansing, MI 48909
Hello, I'm a resident of Michigan and I'm calling
Please refer to the following sample message when to urge Representative Runestad to hold a hearing
drafting your appeal, but feel free to personalize for on HB 4706. This bill would help save the lives
greatest effectiveness: of Michiganders. It would allow families and law
enforcement to intervene when someone has been
Dear Representative Runestad,
judged at risk of suicide or physically harming others,
I'm a Michigan resident and I'm writing to ask you, by temporarily transferring their firearms. Suicides
as Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, to hold a in Michigan have risen nearly 30% over the past 20
hearing on HB 4706. years, and as suicides make up 2/3 of gun deaths in
the U.S., this bill could help save many lives. Let's at
This bill would help save the lives of Michiganders. Studies least talk about it: Please hold a hearing on HB 4706
show that the suicide rate in Michigan has increased by on HB 4706. Thank you!
nearly a third over 20 years. That is staggering.
Generally, access to the means of suicide is a strong risk • Write a letter to the editor calling for Rep.
factor for suicide death; this is particularly true regarding Runestad to introduce the bill, and for your
access to firearms. In 2015, the last year for which this state representative to support it. Remember to
data is available, about half of all suicides nationwide reference them by name, and see p29 for specific
End Gun Violence | Fall & Winter 2018 Toolkit p26MATERIALS
© Amnistia Internacional Portugal
REQUEST PRINTED MATERIALS FOR YOUR TABLE • The crisis of gun violence supersedes political divides
OR EVENT AT: www.amnestyusa.org/materials. and strikes at the core of what makes us all human:
our fundamental rights and freedoms.
TALKING POINTS FOR WRITING A LETTER TO THE • It's time for elected officials to move past the partisan
EDITOR OR OTHER ACTIONS IF YOU ARE LOCATED... divides responsible for the inaction that allows these
violations to continue.
• Our government has a duty to take actual steps
ANYWHERE IN THE U.S.:
to protect our human rights: We should expect and
Use these talking points to craft your letter to the demand nothing less.
editor while following the guidance on p.25. Be sure
• Gun violence violates many intersecting human rights.
to contact gunviolence@aiusa.org before submitting to
A stray bullet may deprive someone walking down the
your local paper.
street of the fundamental right to life. A child being
• Human rights are the freedoms and protections afraid to go to school due to the threat of an active
that belong to every person simply by being human. shooter is a violation of their right to security of person.
They are not political: they set out clear standards The disparate application of Stand Your Ground laws
that everyone deserves in order to lead a life of may deprive communities of color from the right to be
dignity. free from discrimination.
• It's time that we started talking about gun violence
• I'm calling on [your mayor or state representatives]
like what it is: an urgent human rights crisis.
to protect our community by taking urgent steps to
• You probably haven't thought about gun violence
help curb gun violence, including by investing in
as a human rights issue before. But using this
evidence-based, community-involved initiatives,
framework helps us bypass the partisan divide that
funding research into gun violence prevention as a
makes it so difficult to discuss reasonable solutions
public health and human rights issue, and requiring
to ending gun violence in our communities.
background checks and adequate training and
licensing for gun sales in all states.
End Gun Violence | Fall & Winter 2018 Toolkit p27OHIO:
• It's time we started talking about gun violence
like what it is: an urgent human rights crisis.
© Amnesty International • You probably haven't thought about gun violence
ILLINOIS: as a human rights crisis before.
• Human rights are the freedoms and protections
• It's time that we started talking about gun violence that belong to every person simply by being
like what it is: an urgent human rights crisis. human. They set out standards that everyone
• You probably haven't thought about gun violence deserves in order to lead a life of dignity.
as a human rights issue before. Human rights • Using this framework could help us bypass
are the freedoms and protections that belong to the partisan divide that makes it so difficult to
every person simply by being human. They set out discuss actual steps to end gun violence in our
standards that everyone deserves in order to lead communities.
a life of dignity. • One step we must demand is for Governor Kasich
• Using this framework could help us bypass to veto the deadly "Kill At Will" bill (HB 228 and
the partisan divide that makes it so difficult to SB 180).
discuss actual solutions to ending gun violence • Governor Kasich vowed to veto this bill back in
in our communities. February, but we need everyone's help to make
• Senate Bill 337 Amendment #3 is one of those sure that he keeps his word.
common-sense solutions. It would introduce • This bill would put Ohioans' lives at risk by
concrete measures to regulate gun dealers in our creating an extreme Stand Your Ground (SYG)
state. law.
• This bill matters because irresponsible gun • Stand Your Ground laws allow individuals to shoot
dealers are a major source of guns that are used to kill in self-defense without any duty to retreat.
in crimes. They also look the other way when their • While everyone has a right to self-defense,
customers buy guns for others or buy them in evidence shows that Stand Your Ground laws lead
bulk so they can illegally resell them. to an increase in homicides, endangering lives
• In Chicago between 2013 and 2016, nearly one and public safety.
quarter of guns recovered at crime scenes were • If this bill passes, a shooter would be allowed to
sold by only 10 nearby gun dealers. This shows use deadly force in practically any circumstance
how a small number of irresponsible gun dealers if they are scared, as long as they are not in that
can have an enormous impact on crime and place illegally—an incredibly subjective and
safety. potentially racially-biased emotional response.
• It would also be good for our kids by preventing • The American Bar Association found in 2014
new gun dealers from opening near our schools that the application of Stand Your Ground Laws
and daycares. is “unpredictable, uneven, and results in racial
• I'm calling on Governor Rauner to sign this disparities.”
common-sense bill when it arrives at his desk. I • This bill would threaten lives, but Governor
hope you'll join me. Kasich's actions could help save them.
End Gun Violence | Fall & Winter 2018 Toolkit p28You can also read
