text: Today, I joined colleagues in writing to House Speaker John Boehner and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi to urge that Fiscal Year 2014 Appropriations bills not include legislative language or ?ÛÏriders?Û? in appropriations bill that would block efforts to reduce and prevent gun violence.   For too long, special interest groups like the NRA have used these legislative maneuvers to set back the most basic and needed efforts to prevent gun violence,?Û? Esty said. ?ÛÏThey?Ûªve used these legislative maneuvers to curb the ability of law enforcement to effectively combat gun crimes. They?Ûªve used these maneuvers to prevent basic research into the causes of gun crime. People?Ûªs lives are at stake. Families in Newtown and families affected by gun violence across the country deserve better than legislative maneuvers from a special interest group and members of Congress.