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Dear John,
In recent months, we’ve seen unprecedented political violence and unrest, record sales of firearms, and a surge in white supremacist violence. Now, as we approach Election Day in the U.S., we face another dangerous prospect: gun violence at the polls.
Combine that with the ongoing crisis of gun violence nationwide, and you can see why Amnesty International just issued an urgent pre-election advisory* warning about the potential for armed violence against voters as they head to the polls.
It is crucial that voters and poll workers can vote and work in safety. Send an urgent message to your governor right now: demand that your state ban guns around polling locations.
The widespread presence of guns at polling places — as well as armed groups aiming to intimidate voters — is a grave threat to the rights of all people to life, health, security, and the human right to participate in political processes free from discrimination and violence. One senior administration official recently urged the public to “buy ammunition” in the lead up to the election, after President Trump suggested sending armed law enforcement to the polls.
John, we’ve been around the block when it comes to advocating to end gun violence in the U.S. We address gun violence as a human rights crisis. In addition to our call to ban firearms at the polls, we’ve been a long-time advocate for legal reforms on the acquisition, use and possession of firearms in our country. My team and I, in coalition with several other major advocacy organizations, support a wide range of measures to curb gun violence.
Amnesty International does not take a position on elections, nor do we take a position on which candidate should be president. That is crucial to our longstanding independence and ability to operate nationwide and globally.
But we MUST speak out — and speak out loudly — against the prospect of armed intimidation and violence at the polls. We all have the human right to feel safe from gun violence, particularly when exercising our right to participate in political processes.
Add your name: guns should be banned around polling stations.
Our lawmakers need to know where we stand on this issue.
With just weeks from Election Day — and millions of people already early voting — there is absolutely no time to waste.
Sincerely,
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