A dedicated team from ECS and CeaseFire PA traveled to Harrisburg with a shared mission: to advocate for stricter gun laws and support violence prevention programs. Our day was filled with meaningful conversations, passionate advocacy, and a strong sense of community as we met with state legislators to discuss the importance of these critical issues.
Morning: Setting the Stage
Advocates that participated in Advocacy Day all took a training course prior to the day. We reviewed our talking points, prepared our materials, and set off for Harrisburg, ready to make our voices heard.
Meeting with Legislators
Upon arrival, we headed straight to the Capitol. Our first meetings were with key state legislators, some of whom have shown interest in supporting gun violence prevention measures. We shared personal stories, statistics, and the urgent need for stricter gun laws to protect our communities. The legislators listened intently, asked thoughtful questions, and engaged in productive discussions about the proposed bill.
A United Front
One of the highlights of the day was the collaboration between many nonprofits – including ECS, With One Voice, and CeaseFire PA. Together, we presented a united front, demonstrating the widespread support for violence prevention programs. Our combined efforts underscored the importance of community organizations working together to drive change.
Afternoon: Continued Advocacy
In the afternoon, we continued our advocacy efforts, meeting with additional legislators and their staff. We emphasized the need for comprehensive violence prevention programs and the positive impact they can have on reducing gun violence. Each conversation reinforced our commitment to creating safer communities through legislative action. As CeaseFire Pa states, “ We continue our push for life-saving legislation. We're advocating for universal background checks, measures to address ghost guns and 3D-printed firearms, extreme risk protection orders, a ban on machine gun conversion devices and $100 million in the PA budget for important community violence intervention programs. These policies have strong bipartisan support among Pennsylvania voters, including gun owners.
Reflecting on Our Impact
As the day came to a close, we gathered to reflect on our experiences. It was clear that our advocacy had made an impact. We left Harrisburg feeling hopeful and inspired, knowing that our efforts had brought us one step closer to achieving our goal of stricter gun laws and effective violence prevention programs.
Join Us in the Fight
Our day in Harrisburg was just the beginning. We invite you to join us in advocating for safer communities. Contact Kyle Evans at kylee@ecsphilly.org or visit ecsphilly.org/advocacy to learn how you can get involved. Together, we can make a difference.