A major win for public safety!

{NAME} – According to data tracked by the Gun Violence Archive, there have been 31,394 gun deaths in America so far in 2023. Another 27,408 have been injured by guns.  That’s nearly 59,000 of our fellow Americans whose lives and the lives of their loved ones were forever altered by guns.  Right now we are averaging a mass shooting every 12 hours and 34 minutes. And guns are now the leading cause of death for children and teens – for the third year running.  Gun violence on this scale is a distinctly American epidemic, and for too long our leaders have been too intimidated by (or too deep in the pocket of) the gun lobby to do something about it. Until now.  This week President Biden announced the formation of the all new federal agency – the Gun Violence Prevention Office. [A graphic featuring a headline from The Guardian, dated September 21, 2023, which reads: “Biden names Harris to lead first federal gun violence prevention office.” Included is a photo of Vice President Kamala Harris at a recent event.]( This is a MAJOR win for public safety. But this new agency could be compromised or defunded entirely if Republicans in Congress get their way.  Democrats MUST win back the House majority next year to keep this going. That’s why Vortex is recruiting and training the most exciting community leaders from across the state to FLIP all four seats representing Arkansas next year. Can you chip in $50 right now to make sure this effort is properly supported by Congress next year? If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately: [  Express Donate: $500 >>Â]( [  Express Donate: $100 >>Â]( [  Express Donate: $50 >> Â]( [  Express Donate: $25 >> Â]( [  Donate Other Amount: >>]( I know Arkansans are serious about gun rights. I get it. I’m a gun owner, I like to hunt, and I like to go to the gun range. But reasonable people can and do agree that where we are is not normal, and something has to change.  {NAME}, they are going to try and make this a partisan issue. And in a way, it is. Gun lobby groups give millions of dollars to Republican candidates every year – including every single member of the Arkansas delegation.  But what ISN’T partisan is the desire to be safe. Americans are overwhelmingly united on common sense gun reforms like universal background checks (88%), requiring gun owners to take a proficiency test before getting a license to carry (73%), and raising the age to buy a gun (74%).  The problem is our representatives aren’t working for the 73-88% of Americans who want these very sensible reforms. They’re working for the NRA and the rest of the gun lobby.  In her remarks at the announcement of this new office, which she has been appointed to lead, Vice President Kamala Harris had this to say.  “Every family, in every community, should have the freedom to live and to thrive. We know true freedom is not possible if people are not safe. This epidemic of gun violence requires urgent leadership to end the fear and trauma that Americans experience every day.”  Madame Vice President is correct. We cannot be free when people are not safe.  [Vortex is recruiting four bold Democrats to FLIP all four seats in Arkansas in 2024 and make sure this new office of Gun Violence Prevention has all the resources they need to bring about an end to this national epidemic. Can you pitch in $50 now to make it happen?](  Thank you, President Biden and Vice President Harris for listening to the communities that have been torn apart by gun violence, and for taking this extraordinary step that will absolutely save lives.  Forward, Dr. Chris Jones [Contribute to VortexÂ](      Vortex PAC is a new grassroots movement to transform Arkansas politics away from the far-right. We are recruiting, training, and supporting Democratic candidates to flip all four of Arkansas’ U.S. congressional districts and help win back the House majority in 2024. [DONATE >>](   Paid for by Vortex PAC  ©2023 Vortex PAC, all rights reserved  Our mailing address is: Vortex PAC PO Box 1141 Springdale, AR 72765 We're sad to see you go, but if you believe you received this email in error, or you no longer wish to receive our emails you can unsubscribe using the link below: [Click here to unsubscribe.]( Sent via [ActionNetwork.org](. To update your email address, change your name or address, or to stop receiving emails from Vortex PAC, please [click here](.