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    A total of 17 Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers, all wearing red branded shirts, pose for a photo during Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill. They stand in front of a staircase with shade trees on either side of the path behind them; the Capitol building is visible between the trees in the background.
    Moms Demand Action

    Calling on Congress: Powerful Stories From Our Largest Federal Advocacy Day

    7.18.2024

      Hundreds of our unstoppable volunteers from all 50 states and Washington, D.C., took to Capitol Hill last month. Together, they demanded that every member of Congress take meaningful action to address our nation’s gun violence crisis.

      Check out these powerful moments from our Hill Day:

      Despite Sen. Ted Cruz’s long history of opposing stronger gun laws, our Texas volunteers were undeterred. In one of the longest conversations of the day, the group met with him for over an hour—speaking truth to power in the process. “After an hour spent sharing survivor stories and talking about the ATF’s critical background checks rule, Sen. Cruz still couldn’t tell us why he refuses to support common-sense gun laws,” said volunteer Leslie Morrison.

      A total of 21 Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers meet with Sen. Ted Cruz in his office in D.C. They all sit at a brown wood table and all except Cruz wear red branded t-shirts. Cruz wears a grey suit and a white collared shirt.
      A side-profile picture of Ted Cruz and a Moms Demand Action volunteer. Cruz is looking up at the volunteer, who has her hands pressed together and pointed at him.

      Alaska volunteers had a meaningful conversation with a staffer from Sen. Dan Sullivan’s office who focuses on gun safety legislation. They discussed how gun safety laws can be adjusted to support rural and remote villages. Volunteers left feeling certain that their senator could make substantial progress toward reducing gun violence across Alaska. We love to see it!

      Moms Demand Action volunteers meeting with a staffer from Sen. Dan Sullivan's office. Three Moms Demand Action volunteers stand to the right of the staffer; two others stand to his left. The group is smiling and standing in a half-circle.

      Our Louisiana volunteers got a special treat from Speaker Mike Johnson’s staff. They showed the group the speaker’s balcony, which overlooks the National Mall. While our volunteers didn’t get a meeting with the speaker, they made their gun safety priorities known!

      Two volunteers from Louisiana pose in front of Speaker of the House Mike Johnson's office in the D.C. Capitol. Both volunteers—a man on the right, and a woman on the left—are Black; they both wear red branded shirts and dark jackets overtop of the tees.
      The two volunteers from Louisiana stand on the balcony behind the Speaker's Office. They stare out across the Capitol Steps and toward the National Mall and Washington Monument. On the right of the photo, the male volunteer is taking a picture of the view; on the left, the female volunteer is looking out at the Mall.

      Our New Mexico volunteers, including survivors of gun violence, expressed gratitude to Sen. Martin Heinrich and his staff for their unrelenting commitment to enacting stronger gun laws at the federal level. Volunteers shared moving stories about loved ones taken too soon due to gun violence. One survivor shared a harrowing story about having to hide in a restroom with preschoolers during an active shooter situation. Their stories made clear just how urgent taking action on gun violence prevention is.

      Ten volunteers from New Mexico meet with Sen. Martin Heinrich and his staff. They sit in a circle around an oval brown wood table.
      Ten volunteers from New Mexico pose in the waiting area of Sen. Heinrich's office. They all wear red Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action shirts.

      Our Alabama volunteers encountered unforeseen transportation issues and were late to their meeting. Sen. Katie Britt’s staff told them they could no longer meet, but volunteer and gun violence survivor LaKeisha Chestnut refused to take no for an answer. She bravely shared her story in honor of her best friend, who was shot and killed. Her story moved staffers to tears—and she even provided them a handwritten copy of her testimony to share with Sen. Britt. 

      Five volunteers from Alabama pose for a photo in front of the Capitol Building. Shade trees line the path that extends directly behind them; the Capitol building is visible in the center back of the photo.

      Our California volunteer group included Frank Blackwell, whose son, Dominic, was tragically killed in the Saugus High School shooting in 2019. Rep. Mike Garcia’s staffer, a Saugus High alum, recognized Frank immediately. The group had an incredibly meaningful conversation, due in part to this connection.

      At least 14 Moms Demand Action volunteers stand in a semi-circle around Rep. Mike Garcia's staffer. The staffer wears a light blue suit jacket and a white collared shirt; the California volunteers wear red branded tees.

      California volunteers also had a meaningful meeting with Rep. Mark DeSaulnier. He shared his own experience with gun violence and listened to survivors’ stories. After the meeting, Rep. DeSaulnier wrote on X, “As someone who’s lost a loved one to gun violence, I was proud to meet with inspiring advocates today to discuss solutions.” We love to see it, California!

      Four California volunteers pose for a photo with Rep. Mark DeSaulnier. Two volunteers pose on either side of him. All the volunteers wear red Moms Demand Action t-shirts. Rep. DeSaulnier wears a black suit jacket, red tie, and blue shirt.
      Four California volunteers speak with Rep. Mark DeSaulnier in his office. Three of the volunteers sit on the couches and are turned toward DeSaulnier, who is in a chair in between the couches. A fourth volunteer sits in his wheelchair directly across from DeSaulnier.

      Our Oklahoma volunteers were disappointed when Rep. Stephanie Bice wasn’t in her office for their meeting. Gun violence survivor and Moms Demand Action volunteer JeKia Harrison saved the day when she spotted Rep. Bice outside the building and caught up with her for a chat about gun safety. Talk about hustle!

      Two people are pictured from the back, walking toward the Capitol Building. Rep. Stephanie Bice has long dark hair that is curled; she wears a white linen blazer and a white-and-blue floral patterned dress. JeKia Harrison is a Black woman with dark braids, a red Moms Demand Action t-shirt, blue jeans, and a dark purse.

      Volunteers from Ohio dropped off a packet full of information about data-supported, life-saving gun safety bills at their lawmaker’s office. They did so at just the right time and had the pleasure of meeting gun sense champion Sen. Sherrod Brown!

      Two volunteers from Ohio pose for a photo with Rep. Sherrod Brown. Both the volunteers wear red Moms Demand Action tees; Rep Brown stands between them. He wears a dark suit jacket, a light blue collared shirt, and a red and blue striped tie.

      While going through security, our Wyoming volunteers had a serendipitous meeting with Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff. He purposefully waited for the group to thank them for “the amazing life-saving work y’all do.” We couldn’t agree more with the senator!

      Our Arizona volunteers were pleasantly surprised when Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s legislative director and chief counsel, Chris Leuchten, joined their meeting. Our fearless Students Demand Action leaders led the charge and made direct requests of Sen. Sinema’s staff to cosponsor the GOSAFE Act—which would federally ban assault weapons. Way to go, Students!

      A group of Moms Demand Action volunteers are photographed from the back as they walk up the path to the Capitol Building. Shade trees line the path; the Capitol Building is visible in the center of the path, between the rows of trees.

      Our largest Advocacy Day at the federal level paid off: At least 35 new co-sponsors have been added to federal gun safety bills since these visits. And this incredible day wouldn’t have happened without the ongoing efforts of our volunteers, survivors, and partners. When we work together, we can accomplish anything!

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      Join your local Moms Demand Action or Students Demand Action group.

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      Did you know?

      Every day, more than 120 people in the United States are killed with guns, twice as many are shot and wounded, and countless others are impacted by acts of gun violence.

      Everytown Research analysis of CDC, WONDER, Underlying Cause of Death, 2018–2022; Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) nonfatal firearm injury data, 2020; and SurveyUSA Market Research Study #26602, 2022.

      Last updated: 5.7.2024