In The Wake Of Orlando

[SunKat]

If you are looking for ways to take action in the wake of the violent attacks in Orlando, you can add your signature to one of the petitions below.

1. Enact stricter weapon legislation in the City of Orlando. Orlando resident Dylan Wolstencroft started this petition after news broke on Sunday of the violent attack at Pulse nightclub. “Following the two back-to-back shootings which occurred in Orlando, Florida, one of which has now become the biggest and deadliest mass shooting in the nation's history, there is no question that there needs to be stricter weapon regulation in The City Beautiful,” Dylan writes. He’s petitioning Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer to help enact tighter gun violence legislation in his hometown.

2. Lift the ban on gun violence research. Sarah Clements’ mother taught second grade at Sandy Hook Elementary School when six of her colleagues and 20 first graders were killed by a gunman in 2012. Since then, Sarah has fought for Congress to end a ban on research into gun violence by the Centers for Disease Control.

“An average of 32 people are killed by a gun in America every day, and yet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) can’t even conduct research into the root causes of all forms of gun violence,” Sarah writes. Her petition has more than 170,000 signers and continues to gain traction in the wake of another mass shooting.

3. Improve background checks to reduce gun violence. In October of last year, a mass shooting happened in Oregon at Umpqua Community College. Since then, the group Students UNITE has been petitioning Congress to fortify a national background check system to prevent assault weapons from falling into the wrong hands.

“Everyone is affected by these mass shootings. Whether you are black, white, Latino, Asian American, Indian American, the failure of Congress to pass legislation on simple gun control laws will eventually affect all of us. For some people, it already has.” the student wrote. The petition now has more than 100,000 signers.

4. Stop discriminating and screen male blood donors equally.Currently, many gay men are unable to donate blood to local blood banks, even in times of disaster and emergency like in Orlando this past weekend. Groups like GLAAD have been pushing the FDA to change this rule, so that there can be fairness in our blood donation system and so that communities can guarantee an adequate level of blood for crises.

5. Urge President Obama to create a national monument for Stonewall. In the wake of the Orlando shootings, which happened in the heart of June – pride month for millions of LGBT people and allies – more than 14,000 people are calling on the federal government to take a stand and recognize one of the earliest symbols of LGBT rights as a national monument. On the day of the shooting, thousands of people gathered at Stonewall Park to stand in solidarity with those in Orlando.