Gun Violence, a US Epidemic

People in health care invite citizens to think of gun violence as an epidemic and work together as we do in the face of other health challenges.  This weekend, August 3-4, 2019, gunmen killed at least 29 people in back-to-back mass shootings—in El Paso, Texas, in an attack apparently fueled by anti-immigrant racism and white supremacy—and in Dayton, Ohio. These were the 250th and 251th mass shootings this year in America.¹

In comparison, there's been one mass shooting this year in Canada and three in Mexico.²

Before the El Paso and Dayton shootings, a gunman with a military assault-style weapon killed three people, including a 6-year-old boy, and injured 12 at a garlic festival in California. It was the 42nd mass shooting in July alone and the 246th in America this year.³   These shootings need to stop. At festivals. At shopping centers. At schools. At places of worship. At night clubs. At movie theaters.

There are so many simple, clear steps that lawmakers can take to reduce the epidemic of gun violence in America—by passing into law policies that are supported by an overwhelming majority of Americans and even most gun owners.^4,5

Universal background checks. Closing the gun show loophole. Banning assault weapons such as AR-15s. Banning bump stocks. Addressing America's mental health crisis. And redoubling our efforts to combat white supremacy and domestic terrorism.

Often the National Rifle Association (NRA) and gun manufacturers try to block bills for gun safety.⁶ They won't even allow federal funding for research into gun violence.⁷

The horrific massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School nearly seven years ago should have been a tipping point on gun violence in America, but since then:

• There have been approximately 2,185 mass shootings.⁸
• The U.S. Congress has passed into law zero measures to make our children and communities safer.

The greed of weapons manufacturers seems to feed the irrational fears of people. Each of us has the ability to seek solid research and action for sensible laws.  The Catholic  Nonviolence Initiative can strengthen and guide us https://nonviolencejustpeace.net/   Everytown for Gun Safety can help educate us https://everytown.org/  

Sources:
1. "Dayton, Ohio shooting: Nine dead, 26 injured; suspected gunman killed, police say," USA Today, August 4, 2019
https://act.moveon.org/go/72806?t=5&akid=240825%2E7586731%2EEqPMHU
2. Tweet by Ian Bremmer, August 3, 2019
https://act.moveon.org/go/72807?t=7&akid=240825%2E7586731%2EEqPMHU

3. Tweet by Gun Violence Archive, July 29, 2019

https://act.moveon.org/go/68478?t=9&akid=240825%2E7586731%2EEqPMHU

4. "Americans support gun control but doubt lawmakers will act: Reuters/Ipsos poll," Reuters, February 8, 2019

https://act.moveon.org/go/68479?t=11&akid=240825%2E7586731%2EEqPMHU

5. "Most Gun Owners Support Stricter Laws — Even NRA Members," Time, March 13, 2018

https://act.moveon.org/go/68480?t=13&akid=240825%2E7586731%2EEqPMHU

6. "House Passes Sweeping Gun Bill," NPR, February 27, 2019

https://act.moveon.org/go/68481?t=15&akid=240825%2E7586731%2EEqPMHU

7. "House GOP appropriators block funding for gun violence research," Politico, July 11, 2018
https://act.moveon.org/go/68482?t=17&akid=240825%2E7586731%2EEqPMHU

8. "After Sandy Hook, we said never again. And then we let 2,185 mass shootings happen." Vox, accessed July 30, 2019
https://act.moveon.org/go/68483?t=19&akid=240825%2E7586731%2EEqPMHU