School Safety and the Second Amendment

Protecting Our Children and Our Rights

A TOOLKIT FOR ACTIVISTS

“ThosewhowouldgiveupessentialLiberty,topurchasealittletemporarySafety,deserveneitherLibertynorSafety”–BenjaminFranklin

2

TABLE OF CONTENTS How to Use this Toolkit 3 Options for Engagement 4 Facts on School Safety and the Second Amendment 5 What Our Founders Said about the Second Amendment 6 Sample Social Media 7 Sign-Waving Events 8 Engaging with Local Elected Officials 9 How to Write a Letter to the Editor 10 Sample Letter to the Editor (Second Amendment) 11 Sample Letter to the Editor (School Safety) 12 Sample Letter to Member of Congress 13 Sample Letter to School Superintendent/School Board Member 14 Op-Eds and Supporting Documents 15 About Tea Party Patriots Citizens Fund 19

3

HowtoUseThisToolkitIntheaftermathofthetragicschoolshootinginParkland,FL,ourcherishedSecondAmendmentisunderattackagainbyleft-wingactivists,determinedtotakeadvantageofthistragedytopushtheirflawedgun-controlagenda.Itisourresponsibilityasfreedom-lovingactiviststotakestepstoprotectthisright,andtomakeourvoicesheard.Atthesametime,wemustbemindfulthatalargenumberofAmericanparentsthathavechildreninschoolhaveseriousconcernsaboutthesafetyoftheirchildrenandweneedtofacilitateandencourageaconversationabouthowtoincreasesafetywithoutgivingupourGod-givenrights.Thistoolkitisdesignedforactivistsaroundthecountrytohelpremindelectedofficials(atalllevelsofgovernment)andourfellowAmericansoftheimportanceoftheSecondAmendment.AswekeepthefocusonCongress,itisimportantthatwe,asactivists,alsotakethenecessarystepstomakesureourcitycouncilmembersandotherlocalelectedofficialsknowhowimportantitistoprotecttheSecondAmendment.Wehaveincludedavarietyofengagementtools,fromtalkingpointstoasamplelettertoCongresstosuggestedsocialmedia.Welookforwardtoseeinghowyouemploythevariouscomponentsofthistoolkit!Inliberty,TheTeaPartyPatriotsSupportTeam

4

Options for Engagement

q Write1Facebookposttosharewithyourfriendsabouttheneedtoprotectthe

SecondAmendmentandtheneedtoimproveschoolsafety.(Totaltime:10minutes)

q TweetabouttheSecondAmendmentandschoolsafety.(Totaltime:10minutes)

q Writealettertotheeditor.(Totaltime:1hour)

q WriteanemailorlettertoaMemberofCongress.(Totaltime:30minutes)

q Talktolocalofficials.(Totaltime:3hours)

q HostaSign-WavingEventinyourneighborhood.(Totaltime:3hours)

5

Facts on School Safety & the Second Amendment OurfriendsattheHeritageFoundationhavedoneextensiveresearchontherelationshipofgunsinsociety,waystoimprovesafetyinourschools,andsomeofthequestionsweshouldbeaskingtotrytopreventthesetragediesfromhappeninginthefuture.We’rehappytopasstheseresourcesalongtoyouandencourageyoutovisittheirwebsiteathttps://www.heritage.org/school-safetytoreadmoreinformation.

FactsandFigures:

• Firearmsareusedinself-defensehundredsofthousandsoftimeseachyearintheUnitedStates.

• Mostgun-relatedcrimesarecarriedoutwithillegally-ownedfirearms.Accordingtosomeestimates,itmaybeashighas80%ofallgun-relatedcrimesthatareconductedwithillegally-ownedguns.

• Over90%ofpublicmassshootingstakeplacein“gun-freezones,”whereciviliansarenotpermittedtocarryfirearms.Thisstatisticproveshowineffectiveliberalgun-controllawsare.

• Anestimated60%ofmasspublicshooterswerediagnosedwithamentaldisorderorhaddemonstratedsignsofseriousmentalillness.

• Adolescentslivinginintactfamiliesarelesslikelytoexhibitviolentbehaviorsorengageinfighting,andreportlowerlevelsofstress.

• Getmorefactsaboutgunviolenceandmassshootings.

6

What Our Founding Fathers & Others Have Said about the Second Amendment “Afreepeopleoughtnotonlytobearmed,butdisciplined…”-GeorgeWashington,FirstAnnualAddress,tobothHouseofCongress,January8,1790“Nofreemanshalleverbedebarredtheuseofarms.”–ThomasJefferson,VirginiaConstitution,Draft1,1776“Whatcountrycanpreserveitslibertiesiftheirrulersarenotwarnedfromtimetotimethattheirpeoplepreservethespiritofresistance.Letthemtakearms.”–ThomasJefferson,lettertoJamesMadison,December20,1787“Thelawsthatforbidthecarryingofarmsarelawsofsuchanature.Theydisarmonlythosewhoareneitherinclinednordeterminedtocommitcrimes….Suchlawsmakethingsworsefortheassaultedandbetterfortheassailants;theyserverathertoencouragethantopreventhomicides,foranunarmedmanmaybeattackedwithgreaterconfidencethananarmedman.”–ThomasJefferson,CommonplaceBook(quoting18thcenturycriminologistCesareBeccaria),1774-1776“Thatawell-regulatedmilitia,composedofthebodyofthepeople,trainedtoarms,istheproper,naturalandsafedefenseofafreestate;thatstandingarmies,intimeofpeace,shouldbeavoidedasdangeroustoliberty;andthat,inallcases,themilitaryshouldbeunderstrictsubordinationto,andgovernedby,thecivilpower.”-GeorgeMason,VirginiaDeclarationofRights,June121776“Therightofthepeopletokeepandbeararmsshallnotbeinfringed.Awellregulatedmilitia,composedofthebodyofthepeople,trainedtoarms,isthebestandmostnaturaldefenseofafreecountry.”–JamesMadison,IAnnalsofCongress434,June8,1789“Therightofthecitizenstokeepandbeararmshasjustlybeenconsidered,asthepalladiumofthelibertiesofarepublic;sinceitoffersastrongmoralcheckagainsttheusurpationandarbitrarypowerofrulers;andwillgenerally,evenifthesearesuccessfulinthefirstinstance,enablethepeopletoresistandtriumphoverthem.”–JosephStory,CommentariesontheConstitutionoftheUnitedStates,1833

7

Sample Social Media Tweets:Moregunlawswillonlystoplaw-abidingcitizensfromaccessingfirearms.#2a#ProtectTheSecondTakinggunsawayfromlaw-abidingcitizenswillnotsolvegunviolence.Protectthe#SecondAmendment!Firearmsareusedinhundredsofthousandsofself-defenseincidentseachyear.Protectthe#SecondAmendment@TPPatriots90%ofrecentmassshootingshaveoccurredin“gun-freezones.”#SecondAmendmentsaveslives.#2aCheckout@TPPatriotsresourcestoprotect#SecondAmendment.https://www.teapartypatriots.org/weekly-action-items/action-items-for-this-week-april-9-april-13/Wecanhave#SchoolSafetyandstillprotectourGod-Givenrighttokeepandbeararms#2a#ProtectTheSecondIfwe’reseriousabout#SchoolSafety,we’lltalkaboutmentalhealth,familybreakdown,culture,kindness,andmore.#2a#ProtectTheSecondFacebook:Theneedforincreasedschoolsafetyisevidentinoursocietytoday.However,societyshouldn’tbequicktorestricttheSecondAmendmentrightsoflaw-abidingcitizenssimplybecauseadisturbedindividualcarriedoutaheinousattackwithafirearm.TheSecondAmendmentisacherishedrightinourcountry.Ourrighttobeararmsisvitalforself-defenseandforthepreservationofliberty.Wecanmakeourschoolssaferwithoutrestrictingthesacredrighttokeepandbeararms.Wanttotakeaction?CheckoutTeaPartyPatriots’materialsontheSecondAmendment.https://www.teapartypatriots.org/weekly-action-items/action-items-for-this-week-april-9-april-13/

8

Sign-Waving Event Ifyouwouldliketohostasimplesign-wavingeventinyourcity,pickabusyintersection,inviteafewfriends,andholdpostersforcarstosee.Evenasmalleventwiththreepeopleoutsidefor30minutescanhaveatremendousimpact.Belowaresamplesignmessagesyoumaywanttouseasyouprepareyourposters.SuggestedSignMessages:TheSecondAmendment:OneRightthatSecuresthemAll“Thosewhowouldgiveupessentiallibertytopurchasealittletemporarysafety,deserveneitherlibertynorsafety.”-BenjaminFranklinTheOnlyWaytoStopaBadGuywithaGunisaGoodGuywithaGunGunControlOnlyStopsGoodGuysfromGettingGunsTheRighttoKeepandBearArmsSHALLNOTBEINFRINGED!Ifthe#2Aonlyreferredtomuskets,thendoes#1Aonlyrefertoquillandink??NO!Wecanmakeourschoolsafterwithoutrestrictingsacredrightsoflaw-abidingcitizens.Schoolsafetyisimportant.Let’stalkaboutrealsolutionsinsteadoftakingawaysacredrights!

9

Engaging with Local Elected Officials SometimesthemostimportantbattlestoprotecttheSecondAmendmentarenotatthefederallevel;theyareatthelocallevelofgovernment.ThinkaboutChicagoandWashington,D.C.astwoexampleswherelocalactivistshaveneededtoengagewithcityofficialsovertheyearsinordertoprotecttheSecondAmendment.Onthisissue,morethanmanyotherissues,itisvitalthatweseekoutourlocalofficialstoexpressourconcerns.Youmaywanttotakethefollowingactionstoengagewithyourlocalelectedofficials.

• Attendacitycouncilmeeting.• Attendaschoolboardmeeting.• Writealettertoyourmayor/schoolsuperintendentand/orcitycouncilmembers.• Writealettertotheeditorofalocalpaperandaskalocalelectedofficialtotake

stepstoincreaseschoolsafetywhileprotectingtheSecondAmendment.• CreateaFactSheet(usingstatisticsfromthistoolkitorfromGunOwnersof

America)forlocalofficials.• Continuallybuildrelationshipswithyourlocalelectedofficials.Sendthem

invitationstoeventsyouarehosting.Letthemknowaboutsign-wavingeventsyouarehosting,aswellasotherpro-SecondAmendmentevents.

• Createa“WelcomePackage”fornewly-electedlocalofficials.Thepacketcouldincludeanintroductionletterfromyou,anoverviewofwhyyouareforschoolsafetyandwhytheSecondAmendmentissoimportantinyourcityorstate,andopportunitiestocollaborate.

10

How to Write a Letter to the Editor

WhatisaLettertotheEditor?AlettertotheeditorisaletterwrittentotheEditorofanewspaper.Theletterisanopportunityforyoutoexpressyouropinionaboutarecentarticlepublishedinthepaperoranissueinthenews.Writingletterstotheeditorisanimportantengagementtoolforactivists.Theyallowactiviststodothefollowing:1)Reachabroaderaudiencethanyounormallywouldhave;2)Holdyourlocaljournalistsaccountable;3)Presentalternativeviewsonpoliticalissues.Letterstotheeditorareusuallyfoundinthefirstsectionofthenewspaperorontheeditorialpage.

GuidelinesforGettingaLettertotheeditorPublishedMostnewspaperspublishguidelineswiththeirspecificrequirementsforgettingaletterpublished,butherearesomegeneralrulesthatwillhelpyougetyourlettertotheeditorpublished.*Includeyournameandaddressandatelephonenumberwhereyoucanbereached.*Berespectfulandcourteous,evenwhendisagreeingwiththeEditorialBoardaboutaspecificissue.*Bespecific.IfyouareopposedtoObamacare,mentionthespecificreasonswhy.Provideexamples.*Citeyoursources.Ifyouincludeanyquotedmaterial,besuretocorrectlyciteyoursourceorattributethequote.*Usepropergrammar.Spellcheckyourletterandbesuretousepropergrammar.RefertoTheElementsofStyleforagreatoverviewofeffectivewriting.*Beconcise.Letterstotheeditoraremuchmorelikelytobepublishediftheyare300wordsorless.Makeyourpointasclearlyandconciselyaspossible.

11

Sample Letter to the Editor (Second Amendment) DearEditor,TheSecondAmendment,oneofourmostcherishedrightsasAmericancitizens,isunderseriousattacktoday.Everytragicmassshootinginrecentyearshaspromptedgun-controlactivists,politicians,andthemainstreammediatoofferineffectivegunbansasthesolution.Theonlyproblem?Gun-controlmeasuresdon’twork.Accordingtosomeofthelateststatistics,80percentofgun-relatedcrimesarecommittedwithillegally-ownedguns.Thesolution,then,isnottorestricttherightforlaw-abidingcitizenstoownguns.Gun-freezones,whichbecamepopularinthe1990’s,haveproventobehorriblydangerousplaces.Schoolstodayaregun-freezones,butweallknowtheeffectsofthat.Infact,accordingtoGunOwnersofAmerica,afull90percentofrecentmassshootingshaveoccurredingun-freezones.So,maybewecannowdefinitivelysaythatgun-freezoneshavenotworkedasplanned?Americadeservesaseriousdialogueaboutgunviolenceandaboutkeepinggunsoutofthehandsofthosewithmentalillness.ErodingtheSecondAmendmentforlaw-abidingcitizenswilldonothingtoaddresstheseseriousproblems.Sincerely,YourNameYourCity

12

Sample Letter to the Editor (School Safety) DearEditor,Thereisaheightenedneedtohaveanhonestdiscussionaboutschoolsafetyinoursocietytoday.Unfortunately,afterthetragedyatMarjoryStonemanDouglasHighSchoolinParkland,FL,thecryforgun-controlranglouderthanithasinrecentmemory.MostAmericansagreethatwecoulddoabetterjobofprotectingourchildreninschools,andmostAmericanswantrealsolutions,notashort-sightedattackonourConstitutionalrights.Gun-freezones,whichbecamepopularinthe1990’s,haveproventobehorriblydangerousplaces.Schoolstodayaregun-freezones,andwe’veallseenthetragediesplayoutovertheyears.AccordingtoGunOwnersofAmerica,90percentofrecentmassshootingshaveoccurredingun-freezones.Additionally,TheWashingtonPostreportedthat80percentofgun-relatedcrimesarecommittedwithillegally-ownedguns.So,whythen,doesanyonethinknewgunlawswillpreventperpetratorswhowanttocarryoutamassshootingfromobtainingafirearm?Theevidencesuggeststhatpassingnewgunlawswilldovirtuallynothingtostopgun-relatedcrimesfromhappening.Soratherthangoinground-and-roundeverysingletimeoneoftheseterribletragediesoccurs,whydon’twehaveadiscussiononthingslikementalhealth,familybreakdown,cultureandmedia,thatcouldmakeadifferenceincreatingasaferenvironmentforourchildren?Andwhilewe’reatit,whydon’tweallworktobemorekindtoeachother?Sincerely,YourNameYourCity

13

Sample Letter to Member of Congress DATETheHonorable<<Official’sFirstName>><<Official’sLastName>>UnitedStatesSenate/UnitedStatesHouseofRepresentatives<<OfficialsOfficeBuildingNumber>>Washington,DC20002

DearSenator<<LASTNAME>>,ORDearCongressman<<LASTNAME>>,Asyourconstituent,IamwritingtodaytourgeyoutosupportandupholdtheSecondAmendment.TheSecondAmendmentisoneofourmostcherishedrightsasAmericancitizens–andforgoodreason.Astheamendmentprovides,“therightofthepeopletokeepandbearArmsshallnotbeinfringed.”Thosewordshaveplayedaprofoundroleinpromotingsecurityintwosenses–personalsafetyandsecurity,andsecuringourrightsandlibertiesfromtyranny.AsthelateJusticeAntoninScalianotedinDistrictofColumbiav.Heller,ournation’sfounderssawadualpurposeintherighttobeararms.Thefirst,asspelledoutintheplaintextoftheamendment,istopreservethesecurityofthefreestate.Thesecondpurposeoftherighttokeepandbeararmsisself-preservationandself-defense.Today,thereareapproximately150milliongunownersinAmerica.Theoverwhelmingmajorityofthosegunownersarelaw-abidingcitizenswhowillusetheirweaponsonlyforhuntingorself-defense,orotherlegalpurposes.Thetragicincidentsoverthepastseveralmonths,inwhichgunmenhavecomeintoschoolsandchurchesandmurderedchildrenandfamilies,arehorrifyingepisodesinournation’shistory.Gun-controladvocateshaveusedtheseinstancesasjustificationforattackingtheSecondAmendment.Inreality,gunssavelives.Liberalsolutions,suchas“gun-freezones,”haveproventobehorriblyineffectiveatcurbinggunviolence.Insteadweshouldbetalkingaboutmentalhealth,familybreakdown,theculturewe’reraisingourkidsin,andthemediacircusthatplastersthefaceoftheseperpetrators24/7everytimeoneoftheseterribleeventsoccurs.IwillfollowupwithyourstaffnextweektohearhowyouplantoprotectandpromotetheSecondAmendment.Sincerely,[INSERTFULLNAME][INSERTYOURFULLADDRESS][INSERTEMAILADDRESS]

14

Sample Letter to School Superintendent/School Board Member DATENAMEADDRESSCITY,STATEZIP

DearMr./Ms./Dr.<<LASTNAME>>,Asaconcernedcitizenof[YourCounty]County,Iamwritingtodaytourgeyoutofacilitateameaningfulconversationonstepsthatcanbetakentoimprovethesafetyofourstudentsinschools.ImmediatelyfollowingthetragedyatMarjoryStonemanDouglasHighSchoolinParkland,FL,gun-controladvocatesrushedtothescenetotrytotakeadvantageofthesituationtoadvancetheiragenda.Thisisbothdisturbingandwrong.Parentsallacrossthecountryhaveonemajorconcerneverytimeoneofthesetragediesoccurs,andthatiskeepingtheirchildrensafeatanycost.Thisiscompletelyunderstandable,butweshouldn’tletashort-sightedagendarestricttherightsoflawabidingcitizensanddonexttonothingtoactuallykeepourchildrensafe.AccordingtoGunOwnersofAmerica,90%ofmass-shootingsinrecentyearshaveoccurredingun-freezones.Inaddition,theWashingtonPostreportedthat80%ofgun-relatedcrimesarecarriedoutwithgunsthatwereillegallyobtained.Thesetwokeyfactsaloneshouldtellusthatsimplypassingagun-controlmeasurewilldolittletonothingtoactuallyprotectourstudents.Instead,weshouldbetalkingaboutmentalillness,thebreakdownofthefamily,theimpactofsocialmediaonourchildren’slives,thefactthatthemediaplasterstheseperpetrators’facesalloverthenews24/7everytimeoneofthesetragediesoccurs,andtheculturewe’reraisingourkidsin.Finally,weshouldalllearntobemorekindtoeachother.Thatincludesparentsandstudents.Manyoftheyoungpeoplewhohavecarriedouttheseheinousattackslackameaningfulsupportsystem.Ourchildrenshouldbeencouragedtobefriendotherkidswhomaybestrugglinginschoolduetoexternalissues.Iappreciateyourtimeandhopeyouwillgivetheseissuessomethoughtwhenmakingdecisionsaboutthesafetyofourchildren.IwillfollowupwithyourstaffnextweektohearhowyouplantoincreasesafetyinourschoolswhileatthesametimerespectingthesacredrightsprotectedbyourConstitution.Sincerely,[INSERTFULLNAME][INSERTYOURFULLADDRESS][INSERTEMAILADDRESS]

15

Op-Eds and Supporting Documents

TheGun-ControlSideshowJennyBethMartin

InthewakeoftheValentine’sDayshootinginParkland,Florida,Congressisrevisitingguncontrol.OnebillunderconsiderationistheCornyn-Murphy-Feinstein“FixNICS”bill,whichpurportstostrengthenthefederalgovernment’sbackgroundchecksystemforpurposesofpurchasingafirearm.Butuponcloseexamination,“FixNICS,”initscurrentstate,doesnotfixtheproblematall—infact,itexacerbatesexistingproblemsandcreatesplentyofnewones.

Fordecades,Congresshasbeengrapplingwiththequestionofwhoshouldbeprohibitedfromobtainingfirearms.Oftenlostinthediscussion,however,isthefactthatcurrentfederallawalreadyprohibitsthesaleoffirearmstofelons,“mentaldefectives,”illegalaliens,andanumberofothercategoriesofcriminalsandpotentiallydangerousindividuals.

TheBradyHandgunViolencePreventionActof1993mandatedthecreationoftheNationalInstantCriminalBackgroundCheckSystem(NICS),whichtheFBIdevelopedinpartnershipwiththeBureauofAlcohol,Tobacco,FirearmsandExplosives(ATF).FederalgovernmentagenciesandstateandlocalofficialsareabletosendinformationtotheFBIforinclusioninthedatabase,sofirearmsdealerscaneasilyaccessinformationaboutindividualswhoareprohibitedbyfederallawfrompurchasingorowningafirearm.

Butthesystemisfarfromperfect.

BackinApril2016,DevinKelley—themassshooterintheSutherlandSprings,Texas,churchshootingthattookplacelastNovember—wasabletopurchaseaRugerAR-556rifleinSanAntonio,whichhelaterusedtokill26people.DespitethefactthatKelley,aformerAirForcelogisticsofficer,wasconvictedbyacourtmartialin2012oftwocountsofassault(againsthiswifeandchild),thebackgroundcheckfailedtoraiseanyredflags.Hispunishmentwas12monthsofconfinementandabad-conductdischargefromthemilitary.Forbothofthosereasons,hewouldhavebeenprohibitedbyfederallawfrompurchasingorowningafirearm.AndyettheNICSdatabasecontainednoneofthatinformation.

TheTexaschurchmassacreisthereasonfortoday’sdebateoverguncontrol.TexasSen.JohnCornynintroducedthe“FixNICS”billinresponsetotheshootingthathadoccurredinhishomestate.

16

Mr.Cornyn’sbillattemptstoexpandtheeffectivenessofthebackgroundsearchdatabase,andthebillincludesadditionalfundingforstatesasanincentivetoturnovernamesofindividualsforthedatabase.

Seemslikeagoodidea,right?Well,notexactly.

Manyofthosewhose“information”wouldbesenttothefederally-maintaineddatabasewouldincludepeoplewhoshouldnotbedeprivedoftheirSecondAmendmentright.Consider,forexample,apersonwhoisguiltyofanunpaidspeedingticket.Accordingtothisbill,thatpersonwouldbea“fugitive”ofthelaw,andunabletopurchaseafirearm.

AsaSecondAmendmentadvocate,Ihaveotherconcernsabout“FixNICS,”aswell.

IowaSen.ChuckGrassleyhaspointedoutoneparticularlyalarmingfactaboutthedatabase—ithasturnedintoanall-too-efficientwayoferasingveterans’SecondAmendmentrights.Ashenotes:“Roughly99percentofallnamessubmittedtothelist’s‘mentaldefective’category[bythefederalgovernment]werereportedbythe[VeteransAffairsDepartment].”

Themostseriousconcernwith“FixNICS”isthatitwouldseverelyundermineindividuals’dueprocessrights.Individualscanbedeprivedoftheirconstitutionalrighttoownafirearmwithouttheirknowledge,withoutacourtdate,andwithoutaconviction.Thedeprivationofdueprocessisaslipperyslope,andraisesquestionsaboutotherconstitutionally-protectedrightsthatcouldbesummarilyviolatedbythefederalgovernment.

Beyondthespecificproblemsof“FixNICS,”therearealsothebroaderproblemswithgun-controllegislationingeneral.

Therealityisthatgun-controllawsarenotmerelyineffective,they’realsooftencounter-productive.Closeto99percentofallmassshootingssince1950haveoccurredin“gun-freezones,”accordingtotheCrimePreventionResearchCenter.AndtheGun-FreeSchoolZonesActhashaddevastatingeffects,turningschoolsintoeasytargetsforthementallyillwithhomicidalplans.

TheValentine’sDayschoolshootinginFloridashowcasedgovernmentincompetenceatitsworst—andatalllevels,fromtheFBI’sdecisiontoignorenumerouswarningcallsaboutNikolasCruz,tothelocalpoliceofficialswhoconcludedafter39visitswithCruzthathewas“mentallyill,”butstilldidnothing,totheschoolresourceofficerswhorefusedtoengageCruzwhilehewasonhisshootingrampage.

IntrueWashingtonfashion,“FixNICS”wouldnotactuallyfixournation’sgunviolenceproblems;Instead,itwouldexpandthegovernment’sbackground-checkdatabase(toincludemanylaw-abidingcitizens),erodetheSecondAmendment,anddenydueprocesstocountlessAmericans.

17

Americansarereadyforthoughtfuldiscussiononhowtosolvegunviolenceinourcountry,andhowtoimprovegovernmentresponsestowarningsigns.Inthemeantime,Congressshouldavoidthetemptationforaknee-jerkvoteforFixNICSinitscurrentstate.

Governmentfailures,nomatterhowprofoundorconsequential,shouldneverbeanexcuseforstrippingawayAmericans’constitutionalrights.

JennyBethMartinisthepresidentandco-founderofTeaPartyPatriots.https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/feb/28/gun-control-sideshow/

18

AboutTeaPartyPatriotsCitizensFundTea Party Patriots Citizens Fund stands for every American, and is home to millions who have come together to pursue the American Dream and to keep that Dream alive for their children and grandchildren.

What unites the tea party movement is the same set of core principles that brought America together at its founding, that kindled the American Dream in the hearts of those who struggled to build our nation, and made the United States of America the greatest, most successful country in world history.

At its root the American Dream is about freedom. Freedom to work hard and the freedom to keep the fruits of your labor to use as you see fit without harming others and without hindering their freedom. Very simply, three guiding principles give rise to the freedom necessary to pursue and live the American Dream: Personal Freedom, Economic Freedom and a Debt-Free Future.