Support Sen. Murphy's Gun Violence Filibuster

Enough is enough. That's the message from Connecticut's junior Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy, who started a filibuster in the Senate Wednesday to pressure Republicans to vote on gun control legislation. Murphy needs all the help he can get. Much of the Democratic caucus was unprepared for the filibuster, but various members have been jumping on board. Fellow Democrats have followed Murphy's lead, including Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Cory Booker of New Jersey, and Dick Durbin of Illinois. They have all joined him on the floor to support the effort, which began at 11:20 a.m. Wednesday morning.

But they need you, too. You can't take Murphy's or any other senator's place on the floor, but there are still ways you can support the filibuster from home. And here's why you should. Murphy explained the importance of the move when he began his filibuster. "I'm going to remain on this floor until we get some signal, some sign that we can come together on these two measures, that we can get a path forward on addressing this epidemic in a meaningful, bipartisan way," he told his fellow members of the Senate. Given the shooting Sunday morning in Orlando, he couldn't be more right.

Tell Chris Murphy Thanks

The NRA and its far-too-many supporters will begin to make Murphy's office miserable. Fight that hate with some love and appreciation. Give them a call. Send over a tweet. Email if that's your jam. Boost not just his morale but his whole staff's. What they're doing is invaluable.

Call Your Democratic Senators

No, the Dems are not the problem. But they can join in and support Murphy. He needs them to help him stay strong, take the floor for a question, and negotiate as he filibusters. You can look up who represents you here. Find their number in D.C. and give them a call. Ask them to participate in the filibuster or thank them for doing so if they already have.

Call Your Republican Senators

They may not budge, but you should still call and give them hell. Tell them they're the reason there are 49 people dead in Orlando. You can't pray and take no action — even Jesus thinks that's bullshit. Maybe that sounds harsh, but it's true.

Out-Fundraise The NRA

This is what we're dealing with. Did you notice the word "any"? They're not calling to limit any proposed gun control, but to stop it all together. We need a lobbyist of equal power on the other side of the table with just as many members and just as much money. Consider giving to Everytown for Gun Safety. It's currently among the largest groups, and more than 3 million people have already joined.

Give Chris Murphy Money

The NRA is evil and they have a lot of cash. They will spend it to try and make people like Murphy pay. Consider donating to his reelection campaign. Things like this filibuster need to be rewarded so that others aren't discouraged from taking action in the future.

Contact Your State Lawmakers Too

If Washington, D.C., isn't going to make progress, that doesn't mean your state can't pass some sensible gun laws. Focus on blue states or purple states that have been scarred by gun violence. Support legislators there that can pass great gun laws that work. They can later be a model for Washington to work off of.

Better yet, do all of the above and make sure that Senator Murphy knows he's not alone. You've got his back.