The news of yet another mass shooting in the United States is a devastating reminder that gun violence remains a public health crisis that continues to impact all communities. The shooting Monday in Nashville, Tennessee; killing three children and three school workers; is just the latest example of the devastating and unnecessary toll of gun violence.
The United States has seen over 130 mass shootings so far in 2023. Tens of thousands of Americans die by gun violence each year. And although the recent attack didn’t target women and the damaging effects of gun violence are felt by everyone, women are often disproportionately impacted by this crisis. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, women in the United States are 11 times more likely to be killed with a gun than women in other high-income countries. Domestic violence is one of the leading causes of gun violence against women, there is a significant statistical link between perpetrators of domestic violence and mass shootings, and firearms are used in most cases of intimate-partner homicides.
No group is spared, including our most vulnerable: Gun violence is now the leading cause of death for American children.
Gun violence is a women’s issue. It is a children’s issue. It is a human issue.
This is unacceptable. While other wealthy nations have violence and societal problems, the U.S. stands alone when it comes to gun violence. It is the guns.
We must call for change and advocate for common-sense gun laws and policies. This includes universal background checks, red flag laws, and measures to prevent individuals with a history of domestic violence or mental illness from obtaining firearms.
We need to come together and support organizations fighting for gun safety and common-sense laws, such as Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action, remarkable groups of passionate individuals working tirelessly to create a safer America for all.
But we can’t just rely on others to make change happen. We all have a responsibility to speak out and demand action from our elected officials. We need to call those in office, vote for candidates who prioritize gun safety, and use our voices to effect change. For information and to contact your elected officials, find your representatives here and find your senators here.
The call to action is clear: we must stand together, fighting for a safer America, for ourselves, our families, and our communities. The epidemic of gun violence has taken too many lives, destroyed too many families, and left too many communities in shambles. We owe it to the victims of gun violence and their loved ones to do everything we can to put an end to this needless bloodshed.
It’s time to take action, to speak out, and to demand change. Gun violence impacts us all.
For local connections, volunteer opportunities, resources, more information, and updates, visit Moms Demand Action or Everytown for Gun Safety, or text READY to 644-33.
