Want to take action on gun violence, but don’t know where to start? Feeling angry, overwhelmed, & numbed by the number, magnitude, frequency, & complexity of these murders? Take care of yourself first, but as soon as you are able, channel your feelings by taking action. Click here to see the actions you can take
Our legislators must act and laws must be passed to end the gun violence crisis in our country: stronger background checks, assault weapons ban, elimination of high-capacity magazines are just a few of the issues for which we are advocating.
It’s important to continue to press the legislators who support us to urge them to fight like hell to get sensible gun safety legislation passed. For those who do not already support us, it is even more important to contact their offices via mail, email or phone call to ask them to take action to implement common sense gun safety laws.
Below are links for you to explore actions so you can choose how you wish to become involved.
Social Justice Blog Posts
What’s On Your Ballott? California Ballott Proposition 1
Ballot Proposition 1 is not as clear as you might think.
The Social Justice Committee will be on the patio after the services in February to answer your questions about the propowsition. They will give you a handout explaining the pros and cons so you can cast an informed vote.
Arlene Rosenthal
By Denise Janssen Eager
It is with a heavy heart I share that Well in the Desert’s guiding light, Arlene Rosenthal, passed away peacefully Tuesday evening. She was 79 years old.
UUCOD had a long lasting partnership with Arlene and Well in the Desert.
As Well in the Desert’s president, Arlene was a fearless, tireless, and big-hearted advocate keeping those who live unhoused front & center in Palm Springs’ eye.
July Backpack & School Supply Drive
Join us in collecting backpacks and school supplies for needy East Coachella Valley students. Galilee Center will distribute our donations in August. Read more for the list of requested supplies to bring to the UUCOD lobbby throughout the month of July.
UUCOD the Vote: May 2022, Voting Rights Campaign Resumes
Several states have already restricted voting rights to discourage voters from casting their ballots. We can help! Take action to reach those voters by working with national organizations coordinating volunteers who encourage voters to cast their ballot in 2022.
Your 2022 Election Questions Answered
Question 1: Have the Congressional Districts in the Coachella Valley changed in 2022?
Answer: Yes, District 36 currently represented by Representative Raul Ruiz has been split.
National Gun Violence Awareness Day is Friday, June 2, 2023
Show your support by wearing orange.
Take a selfie, & post it on your Facebook page with the message “Today, I will #WearOrange” listing your reason you are against gun violence.
Email it to socialjustice@uucod.org to be included in our group count.
Wear Orange Weekend is June 2-4.
Find out how to participate in Wear Orange by clicking the link below.
Everytown for Gun Safety is the umbrella organization that holds Moms Demand Action & Students Demand Action.
Visit Everytown for Gun Safety to get educated about the issues & solutions. Find out what is happening in each state and how you can be a gun sense voter. https://www.everytown.org
Sandy Hook Promise https://www.sandyhookpromise.org
Sign a petition demanding the Senate pass expanded Background Checks.
End Family Fire. Family fire is a shooting involving an improperly stored or misused gun in the home that results in death or injury. You have the power to end family fire.
Find out about the many programs they offer schools and teachers.
March for Our Lives
In 2022, Gen-Z voted at historic rates in the midterms to protect our future. They held 450 marches worldwide, leading to 20+ new state laws to curb gun violence, and the bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the first federal legislation on guns in 30 years.
Visit March for Our Lives to take action. https://marchforourlives.com/
The Brady Campaign https://www.bradyunited.org
Urge your Senator to support legislation that would expand and strengthen Background Checks and enact common-sense laws to reduce gun violence.
Call California Senators and your Congressional Representative to urge them to support simple, common sense gun safety laws.
California Senators
Senator Dianne Feinstein https://www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/ )
United States Senate
331 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: 202-224-3841
Direct Link to Send Email via Feinstein’s Web page
California Senator Dianne Feinstein is the major author of the existing proposed law to ban assault rifles and she was also the author of the ban on assault rifles passed as part of the “Brady Bill”. This law was not reauthorized by Congress when it expired.
“I reintroduced the Assault Weapons Ban, to stop the sale, transfer, importation and manufacturing of military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition feeding devices.”
Senator Alex Padilla https://www.padilla.senate.gov/
112 Hart Senate
Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-3553
Direct link to send a message online or to write a letter online
Local Members of Congress
Representative Raul Ruiz (D-District 25) https://ruiz.house.gov/
Congressman Raul Ruiz
2342 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-5330
Email or Phone Call Direct Link from Ruiz Web Page
Representative Ken Calvert (R-District 41) https://calvert.house.gov/
Congressman Ken Calvert
2205 Rayburn Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-1986
Email Address: No published email address
Join President Biden and Vice President Harris in their efforts to ban assault rifles.
Other issues you can mention to our California Senators and your member of Congress are:
Improving background checks and extending the requirement for background checks prior to purchase of any firearm including purchases at Gun Shows and private sales of such weapons..
Increasing “red flag” laws to identify and remove guns from individuals who behave in a way that presents a danger to themselves and others
Use this information to contact Senators and Members of Congress. If you do not live in one of the two Congressional Districts in the Coachella Valley and surrounding area, you can use this link to find out who represents you in Congress:
https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative