ANCA Rapid Responder Letters: Co-Sign Letter to Stop the Proposed Gun Sale to Turkey

ANCA Letter to U.S. House Members:

In the wake of the May 16th attack on peaceful protesters in Washington, DC by Turkish President Erdogan’s bodyguards, I am writing, to ask you to co-sign the Trott-Pallone letter asking Secretary of State Tillerson to block a proposed sale of semi-automatic handguns and ammunition to the Turkish government.

The Trott-Pallone letter states that,on May 16, “members of President Erdogan’s security detail violently attacked peaceful protestors outside the residence of the Turkish Ambassador in Washington, DC. With President Erdogan just feet away, looking on, armed members of his security detail unleashed a vicious attack, targeting non-violent protestors and American Diplomatic Security Officers, resulting in severe neurological, oral, and maxillofacial injuries.” The letter notes that: “Unfortunately, this is only the latest in a series of disturbing attacks by President Erdogan’s security forces in the United States, including a brawl at the United Nations, and a series of physical fights in Washington, DC in May 2016. This same security force now stands to be the beneficiary of a potential arms deal.”

Given the unanimous adoption by the U.S. House of H.Res.354 on June 6, 2017 – a bipartisan measure that calls for the perpetrators of this attack to be brought to justice under U.S. law – we must, as Americans, prevent the sale of U.S. weapons to the very same Erdogan’s security detail that so brutally assaulted U.S. citizens on American soil.

Thank you for your consideration of my request.