All of us are affected by this issue. The ability to get a handgun, no matter who you are, is shameful.

I am starting this petition because I'm terrified by the escalating gun violence in this country. I am a grandmother, mother, aunt, retired teacher, Sunday School teacher and women's Bible study coordinator. And I will not stop fighting for gun control in every arena of my life and you should do the same. Please sign my petition.

I cannot continue to sit idly by while more innocent people are killed by guns in this country. Other countries have figured this out. Now it's up to us and our elected leaders to find solutions.

My husband is an English professor in a community college, the same kind of class that was attacked in Roseburg by a man with armor and multiple guns. My daughter is a 1st grader, the same age of the children who were killed by a man with an assault rifle in Sandy Hook. Until assault rifles are illegal and background checks are mandatory for gun buyers, I feel like my family is at risk. No community is immune to this trend in America.

We have seen too many mass murders, especially here in Colorado. If the federal government cannot stand up to the NRA, then we Coloradans surely can!

Can there be anyone in this country who isn't appalled every time we are greeted with the news of yet-another mass shooting? Or, every time we see more senseless gun violence and innocent lives lost on our city streets? I'm just one of millions who want change, and want our representatives in Washington to take ACTION, now!

IMPORTANT UPDATE: In December 2016, the Journal News revealed that County Executive Astorino will permit a new Gun Show to take place at Westchester County Center on January 21-22, 2017. In response, on January 9, the Westchester County Board of Legislators approved legislation to ban gun shows on all county property, by a vote of 9-8. County Executive Astorino is expected to veto the bill, and we expect to keep working to pass it, by obtaining enough votes to override the veto. We will deliver all signatures on this petition to the Westchester County Board of Legislators and County Executive Astorino in January 2017 before the vote. Please SIGN THIS PETITION and visit our Take Action center at www.PreventGunViolence.org to see how you can help. Thank you!! PERSONAL STATEMENT: As a Westchester resident, I am shocked and saddened by the recent horrific shooting of eight students and a faculty member at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon. My friend Rachel was shot and killed by a 14-year-old playmate in 1982 when she was only 12 years old. Over 30,000 people die in the U.S. every year from gun violence, including suicide, homicide, and accidents.

My nephew's life was stolen and my family have suffered injustice at the hands of local police when called for a Wellness Check.

I was a Seattle firefighter and have had many personal experiences with gun violence including accidental shootings, suicides, and homicides. I never saw a shooting in my thirteen years as a firefighter that was in self defense.

I'm a proud gun-owning Arizonan, but I can't just stand by and watch innocent lives gunned down every few months. As a member of Congress who represents me, I ask you to hear my request to do something to prevent meaningless gun violence like that which hurt Former Rep. Gabrielle Gifford.

100% of the non-drug related mass shootings in Utah over the past 3 years were caused by disturbed fathers killing their own family and themselves (Mass Shooting Tracker). In countries with tighter restrictions on gun ownership, far fewer (2x - 20x) gun suicides and murder-suicides exist. Mental Health reform is the underlying issue, but restriction of access has an undeniable positive impact and saves lives while mental health reforms take shape.

I want our legislators to listen to the voters in Virginia, and not the Gun Lobby that makes large campaign donations. Children's lives are more valuable that. My grandchildren in Virginia schools matter more than dollars!