America’s Gun Violence Epidemic
Two years ago today, a gunman opened fire inside a high school in Parkland, Florida, killing 17 students and staff members. There have been over 500 incidences of gunfire in American schools since 2013.* There have been over 200 mass shootings in America in the last 10 years, four of which were in Nevada. And Washington has done nothing.
According to EveryTown For Gun Safety, an average of 52 women are killed by an intimate partner every month. “Abusers with firearms are five times more likely to kill their victims, and guns further exacerbate the power and control dynamic used by abusers to inflict emotional abuse and exert coercive control over their victims.” Women of color, trans women, and indigenous women are more likely to be victims of gun violence. Yet Washington does nothing.
Not to mention the hundreds of instances of everyday gun violence including homicides, suicides, unintentional shootings, and more. Access to a gun increases the likelihood of death by suicide by 3x. And Washington remains silent.
We know that gun violence is not caused by movies and video games. We know that anger and hatred are not mental illnesses. We know that hopes and prayers do not replace action. These are excuses to avoid the real problem. It’s time for common sense gun safety legislation to keep our children and communities safe.

One month after the Parkland school shooting, students all over the country marched in protest of the NRA and politicians that support it. apnews.com

Teachers unions speak about the traumatizing effects of Active Shooter Drills in schools. apnews.com