February 19, 2021
What's On Our Mind ...
Gun violence deaths, Ethan's Law, and TikTok

Gun violence, another major health crisis, has continued to grow as our country struggles to deal with the COVID epidemic.

Next Wednesday at 12:30 pm CST, we will have a discussion with one of the country’s leading experts on preventing gun violence, Tim Daly (Click here to RSVP.) He is the Senior Program Officer of the Gun Violence Prevention & Justice Program at the Joyce Foundation.

He recently helped to author their comprehensive new report, “The Next 100 Questions: A Research Agenda for Ending Gun Violence.” Tim will discuss the Foundation’s findings on the next generation of gun violence prevention research, identifying new paths of inquiry into reducing gun deaths and injuries in America.

America is struggling with the growing problem of gun violence. Last year, gun violence deaths increased by nearly 4,000 more fatalities than the year prior. Firearm-related background checks, ammunition sales, and gun sales all saw record numbers. This trend shows no sign of slowing down this year.

Far-right groups are pushing up gun sales. Seeking to radicalize dispirited Trump supporters, extremist groups are invoking the 2nd Amendment and spreading conspiracies about gun confiscation. 

Upcoming Events

JAC Education Foundation Presents:
Discussion on Gun Violence with Tim Daly
Senior Program Officer in the Gun Violence Prevention & Justice Reform Program of the Joyce Foundation
Wednesday, February 24
1:30 pm ET | 12:30 pm CT | 10:30 am PT
Instagram of the Week
February 18, 2021 - Hope you didn't forget your sunscreen, Ted!

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In the News
ISRAEL
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Joe Biden spoke about the pandemic, Iran, and peace efforts. President Biden's point man on the Israeli-Palestine conflict is not aiming for a Nobel Prize, rather incremental steps to improve the situation. Here's why Israel is holding its fourth election in two years.
ANTISEMITISM AND BDS
Parler is back online, more than a month after Amazon knocked it offline. Republicans applauded Marjorie Taylor Greene after her antisemitic comments came to light and many Jews fear what comes next. Extremism flourishes during pandemics -- eroding trust and spreading fear.
CHOICE
Why the FDA must lift unnecessary restrictions on medication abortion care now. Anti-choice advocates say they are attacking abortion, but they are really hurting the poor. A bill was proposed in Tennessee that would grant fathers veto power over abortion, with no exception for rape or incest.
RELIGION AND STATE
Right-wing justices think religion is under siege -- will the full Supreme Court follow? President Biden is using his faith to fight for democratic principles, a departure from the religious-right that's usually associated with Catholicism.
BEYOND THE CORE
Now that the U.S. has rejoined the Paris Agreement, President Biden vows to stop sidelining climate issues. 3D-printed guns are getting more capable and more accessible. The Biden administration has to decide the fate of Trump's border wall. COVID vaccines will be available for all Americans by the end of July.
POLITICAL BYTE
The Senate acquitted Trump but his legal problems are just starting. In President Biden's debut on the world stage, he urged democracies to work together to challenge abuses by autocratic states such as China and Russia. Redistricting looms large over the 2022 elections as parties fight to control district drawing power.
FYI
New pop-up sites in New York City are vaccinating Holocaust survivors. With Purim coming up, these seven U.S. bakeries will ship hamantaschen directly to you. Read the story behind Israel's iconic bourekas.
The Last Word
"We can no longer delay or do the bare minimum to address climate change. This is a global existential crisis, and all of us will suffer if we fail."

- President Joe Biden
Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs (JACPAC) is a pro-Israel PAC with a domestic agenda. We support a strong U.S.-Israel relationship and advocate for reproductive health and the separation of religion and state and incorporate other issues of importance to the Jewish community, including gun violence prevention and climate change. In addition to providing financial support for U.S. Senate and House campaigns, JACPAC educates our membership with outreach events designed to inform and activate their participation in the political process.
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