BREAKING: House votes to reauthorize VAWA. Now tell the Senate to do the same

BREAKING: The House just voted to re-authorize the Violence Against Women Act. We need to keep up the momentum and tell the Senate to follow suit.

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One of the most important and personal reasons I am proud to be a Democrat is because Democrats are the party that champions women. We as Democrats know that what some may refer to as “women’s issues” affect all of us in this country.

Democrats also know that domestic abusers should not have access to firearms.

This shouldn’t be remotely controversial. But it’s exactly what’s holding up reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act in Congress — and the NRA is leading the charge.

Democrats in the House just voted to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act — but the NRA is counting on their Republican allies in the Senate to stop the bill there. Speak out now and urge the Senate to reauthorize VAWA:

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Since 1994, VAWA has been the landmark piece of legislation designed to protect all women, no matter their income or ZIP code, against domestic abuse and sexual violence. A key element of VAWA is the “red flag” amendment, which prevents domestic abusers and those convicted of stalking from owning firearms — and for good reason:

• Survivors of domestic abuse are five times more likely to be killed by their abuser if the abuser owns a gun.
• Domestic violence incidents involving guns are 12 times deadlier than those without.
• Nearly two-thirds of the women whose lives were claimed by gun violence in 2011 were killed by a domestic partner.

We cannot and should not let Republicans and the NRA muddy the waters: Domestic abusers should not have access to guns. The truth is Republicans in Congress are using their alliance with the gun lobby to block VAWA — and force women to live in constant fear of extreme violence and even death.

While Republicans in Congress are refusing to put the well-being of women above special interests like the NRA, Democrats have consistently been on the front lines fighting to protect all women from violence and abuse. That is why I’m asking you to take action today:

Add your name to tell Republicans in Congress to reauthorize VAWA. It will take each and every one of us making our voices heard to demand justice and safety for women.

Thank you for taking action to stand with women.

Seema

Seema Nanda
Chief Executive Officer
Democratic National Committee