To the editor:

Every day 100 Americans are shot and killed.

Read that again.

Every single day we lose 100 Americans to preventable gun violence. That is 100 Americans too many. And yet despite the fact that we know stronger gun laws lead to fewer gun-related deaths, the Trump administration has taken no action to address this crisis. Why? Well, the NRA gave the Trump campaign over $30 million in 2016.  We need a president who isn’t afraid to stand up to corporate interests and fight for the American people. Joe Biden has shown that he can do that.

Biden has not only taken on the NRA and won, but he’s done it twice. In 1993, he helped secure the passage for the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, which established the background check system that has kept over 3 million firearms out of the hands of dangerous people. A year later, Biden and Senator Dianne Feinstein fought for the passage of the 10-year assault weapons ban. As president, Biden has committed to defeating the NRA once again.

Let’s take a look at his policies. Firstly, Biden has pledged to repeal the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which protects gun manufacturers from civil liability for their products. He also wants to reinstate the Assault Weapons and High-Capacity Magazine Ban which he has been supporting for more than 30 years.

In order to protect Americans from these weapons of war, Biden also plans to implement a buy-back program of assault weapons. Closing the boyfriend loophole, implementing universal background checks, and ending the online sale of firearms and firearm parts are also priorities for Biden. To learn more about each of Biden’s specific gun-related policies, I encourage you to check out joebiden.com/gunsafety.

It’s imperative to recognize the full extent of America’s gun violence crisis. Americans are 25 times more likely to be killed with a gun than people in other developed nations. And the gun violence crisis costs the American economy $229 billion every single year.

With Biden in office, the American people can rest assured that their president is doing everything in his power to end preventable gun deaths. So do your part to end the gun violence crisis in our country: on Nov. 3, cast your ballot for Joe Biden. Our best days still lie ahead.

Anna Saal

Barrington

Anna is state chair of RI High Schoolers for Biden.