About

Hosted by Americans for Responsible Solutions, the Rights and Responsibilities Tour is a week-long, seven-state tour that mobilizes an unlikely coalition of supporters to call for the immediate passage of common-sense gun safety laws – that 90 percent of Americans support – at the state and federal levels. The tour reminds us the week of Independence Day that with rights come equally important responsibilities: we can celebrate responsible gun ownership and promote common-sense gun safety laws that protect our communities from gun violence.

On January 8, 2013 – the second anniversary of the horrific Tucson shooting where a mentally ill young man shot Congresswoman Gabby Giffords in the head, killing six of her constituents and wounding 12 others – Gabby and her husband, retired Navy Captain and astronaut Mark Kelly, launched Americans for Responsible Solutions – a 501(c)(4) advocacy organization and political action committee – to encourage elected officials to stand up for common-sense solutions to prevent gun violence and protect responsible gun ownership.

Until now, the gun lobby’s political contributions, advertising and lobbying have dwarfed the influence of average, law abiding citizens. No longer. Americans for Responsible Solutions is engaging millions of people who are committed to finding sensible ways to reduce gun violence and supporting lawmakers who are willing to take a stand for responsible policies.

Research shows that gun owners can support gun safety, and Americans without guns can support gun owners so we must demand more since doing nothing while others are in danger is not the American way. During the tour, Gabby and Mark will join supporters in states to thank senators who voted in favor of the Manchin-Toomey bill – and to show those who voted against it that there is broad public support in their states for them to change their votes. The tour will involve a diverse collection of local stakeholders in events, including visits to shooting ranges, roundtable discussions about gun safety legislation, appearances at public events and press conferences to promote the efforts.

RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBLITIES TOUR SCHEDULE

What is Americans for Responsible Solutions?

On January 8, 2011, a mentally ill young man shot Congresswoman Gabby Giffords in the head, killing six of her constituents and wounding 12 others. Since that tragedy in Tucson, America has seen too many more mass shootings – but no response from Congress. This inaction on gun violence was thrown into even starker contrast after the massacre of 20 children and six of their teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

On the second anniversary of the horrific Tucson shooting, as America mourned the dead in Newtown, CT, Gabby and her husband, retired Navy Captain and astronaut Mark Kelly, launched Americans for Responsible Solutions – a 501(c)(4) advocacy organization and political action committee – to encourage elected officials to stand up for common-sense solutions to prevent gun violence and protect responsible gun ownership.

Until now, the gun lobby’s political contributions, advertising and lobbying have dwarfed the influence of average, law abiding citizens. No longer. Americans for Responsible Solutions is engaging millions of people who are committed to finding sensible ways to reduce gun violence and supporting lawmakers who are willing to take a stand for responsible policies.

What is the Rights and Responsibilities Tour?

Hosted by Americans for Responsible Solutions, the Rights and Responsibilities Tour is week-long, seven-state tour that mobilizes an unlikely coalition of supporters to call for the immediate passage of common-sense gun safety laws – that 90 percent of Americans support – at the state and federal levels. The tour reminds us the week of Independence Day that with rights come equally important responsibilities: we can celebrate responsible gun ownership and promote common-sense gun safety laws that protect our communities from gun violence.

During the tour, Gabby and Mark will join an unlikely coalition of supporters in states where senators voted for and against the Manchin-Toomey bill to expand background checks on gun purchases in order to remind the American public that this issue requires urgent attention. The tour will involve a diverse collection of local stakeholders in events, including visits to shooting ranges, roundtable discussions about gun safety legislation, appearances at public events and press conferences to promote the efforts.

Why is the Rights and Responsibilities Tour visiting seven states?

The tour will visit Nevada, Alaska, North Dakota, Ohio, New Hampshire, Maine and North Carolina from July 1-7, 2013. Americans for Responsible Solutions is mobilizing an unlikely coalition of supporters in these states to thank senators who voted in favor of the Manchin-Toomey bill – and to show those who voted against it that there is broad public support in their states for them to change their votes. Research shows that gun owners can support gun safety, and Americans without guns can support gun owners so we must demand more since doing nothing while others are in danger is not the American way.

Why was the tour hosted during the week of Independence Day?

The Rights and Responsibilities Tour is a celebration of America’s heritage and the values that make our nation great. At Americans for Responsible Solutions, we are strong supporters of the Second Amendment and believe that the right to bear arms is a definitive American value – in the past and in the future. The week of Independence Day, we celebrate responsible gun ownership. We know that with that right comes an equally important responsibility: Common sense gun laws that will help keep our communities, our families and our children safe. Responsible gun ownership is part of what makes us Americans, but recent tragedies are evidence that America is not doing enough to keep its citizens safe. It’s clear that we must work together to fight for sensible measures that will help to prevent gun violence and save lives.

Will expanded background checks infringe on Americans’ 2nd Amendment rights?

We know that expanding background checks will level the playing field for all people looking to purchase a gun. Some estimates have found that 40 percent of gun sales in this country currently occur with no background check – at gun shows, on the Internet and through other unregulated transactions. And we know that 80 percent of criminals who used a gun to commit their crimes reported getting their guns with no background checks. The passage of expanded background check legislation would pave the way for reducing gun violence while protecting responsible gun ownership. This is a common-sense measure that can save lives.

Americans for Responsible Solutions are strong supporters of the Second Amendment and believe that the right to bear arms is a definitive American value – in the past and in the future. As gun owners, Gabby and Mark would not support a bill that infringed on Americans’ Second Amendment rights or led to the creation of a registry of guns and gun owners.

Why do the majority of Americans support background checks?

It’s simple: Americans are a reasonable, compassionate people. There are several common-sense gun safety measures that the majority of Americans – those who own guns and those who don’t – support because they can help save lives and keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the dangerously mentally ill who intend to do harm. Research shows that gun owners can support gun safety, and Americans without guns can support gun owners so we must demand more since doing nothing while others are in danger is not the American way. We are confident that Americans will not give up in pursuit of background check legislation, and the Rights and Responsibilities Tour provides an opportunity for those people who support common-sense gun safety legislation to stand up and show elected officials that this fight is far from over.

What will it take from here to get another vote on background check legislation in the U.S. Senate?

Gabby and Mark are excited to travel around the country and talk to Americans who are still fired up about this issue – like they are. Americans are disappointed in the elected officials who voted against common-sense gun safety laws, but they are by no means rattled by the April vote – rather further determined to push for change. During the Rights and Responsibilities Tour, we will harness the building energy and create a ground swell at the local level to get another vote on expanded background checks in the Senate on the table. To do so, we will be mobilizing for action and letting elected officials know that a failure to represent the interests of the majority of Americans will come with consequences at the polls in 2014 and beyond.

What’s more important – action at the federal or state level?

Both are equally important. History has taught us that sometimes real change starts in the states, and we will continue to build and sustain momentum to realize the change that we seek. Organizing bodies will be coming together in the weeks and months following the tour so that we have a sustainable presence at the local level to push for the passage of common-sense laws that protect responsible gun ownership and reduce gun violence.

What is the best way for people to get involved and/or take action?

There are many ways for people to demonstrate their support for common-sense gun safety laws. Americans for Responsible Solutions is asking supporters to contact their local elected officials, spread the word by asking friends and family to get involved and sign a petition to call on Congress to enact expanded background checks on gun purchases. As local organizing bodies in states come together, Americans for Responsible Solutions will be calling on supporters to help sustain the energy at the local level and push for the eventual passage of laws that protect responsible gun ownership and reduce gun violence.

What will happen after the tour has concluded?

Following a successful Rights and Responsibilities Tour, Americans for Responsible Solutions plans to continue building grassroots momentum by sustaining activity and driving action to make sure the diverse collection of advocates that support common-sense gun safety legislation are heard here in tour states, in Washington and throughout the country. Organizing bodies will be coming together in the weeks and months following the tour so that Americans for Responsible Solutions will have a sustainable presence at the local level in order to push for the eventual passage of laws that protect responsible gun ownership and reduce gun violence. Our goal is to formalize these organizing forces so that conversation and momentum will continue long after the tour has passed through town. We hope that people who share our belief and want to take action will work to involve more supporters, raise their voices with elected officials and advocate for the change that we seek.