We Need Gun Control Now
Like many Americans we are incredibly heart-broken and frustrated by the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2022. The shooting took place in Uvalde, a small town in rural Texas with a population of 16,000. The attack killed 19 students ranging from 2nd to 4th grade and 2 teachers.
In the last 2 months, there have been numerous high profile shootings targeted at minorities.
In Sunset Park, a predominantly Hispanic, Latino, and Asian working class neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, a gunman set off smoke grenades in a crowded subway car and then opened fire. 23 people were injured.
A shooting spree in Dallas, Texas targeting Asian owned businesses, injured 3 women of Korean descent at a hair salon.
A supermarket shooting broke out in Buffalo, New York in a predominantly Black community by an 18 year-old male. 10 people were shot and killed.
A gunman attacked a lunch banquet at a Taiwanese church in Laguna Woods, California killing one person and wounding five others.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. We need ACTION NOW. We need gun control.
Below is a list of resources on how to take action and ways to help families of the victims. And please VOTE in elections to make your voice heard.
DONATE TO FAMILIES OF VICTIMS
- Verified GoFundMe links are saved in a hub rounding up fundraisers set up by friends and family members of the victims from the Uvalde shooting.
- Victims First is a network of families of the deceased and survivors from over two decades of previous mass shootings. On their page, they state that "100% of what is collected goes DIRECTLY to the victim base so the victims’ families and those wounded/injured are protected from fraud and exploitation."
- Los Verdes Supporter Group based out of Austin, Texas launched their fundraiser to help with medical expenses.
OTHER WAYS TO HELP AND TAKE ACTION
- Donate blood to South Texas Blood and Tissue. In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, emergency blood drives were set up in Texas. You can also make an appointment.
- University Health has also encouraged people to donate blood for their trauma center in San Antonio, Texas.
- Everytown is the largest gun violence prevention organization in America. Their page reads "Gun violence touches every town in America. For too long, life-saving laws have been thwarted by the gun lobby and by leaders who refuse to take common-sense steps that will save lives." Visit their page for ways to be part of the movement, to take action, and to donate to the work they're doing.
- March for Our Lives supports and centers the people and communities impacted by gun violence. The organization was born out of another tragic school shooting in Parkland, Florida and as stated on their page "is a courageous you-led movement dedicated to promoting civic engagement, education, and direct action by youth to eliminate the epidemic of gun violence." They aim to create safe and healthy communities and livelihoods where gun violence is obsolete. Consider donating or getting involved with the organization.
- CALL YOUR SENATORS! House Democrats passed two gun control bills in March 2021. HR 8 would expand background checks and HR 1446 would increase the background check waiting period. Both are necessary and both are currently stalled in the Senate due largely to Republican opposition. Below are the 52 Senators (50 Republicans and two Democrats) who are opposed to suspending the filibuster to pass gun control legislation with a simple majority. If you are passionate about preventing gun violence, call your senator and demand action.
- Mitch McConnell of Kentucky: (202) 224-2541
- John Thune of South Dakota: (202) 224-2321
- John Barrasso of Wyoming: (202) 224-6441
- Roy Blunt of Missouri: (202) 224-5721
- Joni Ernst of Iowa: (202) 224-3254
- Rick Scott of Florida: (202) 224-5274
- Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee: (202) 224-3344
- John Boozman of Arkansas: (202) 224-4843
- Mike Braun of Indiana: (202) 224-4814
- Richard Burr of North Carolina: (202) 224-3154
- Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia: (202) 224-6472
- Bill Cassidy of Louisiana: (202) 224-5824
- Susan Collins of Maine: (202) 224-2523
- John Cornyn of Texas: (202) 224-2934
- Tom Cotton of Arkansas: (202) 224-2353
- Kevin Cramer of North Dakota: (202) 224-2043
- Mike Crapo of Idaho: (202) 224-6142
- Ted Cruz of Texas: (202) 224-5922
- Steve Daines of Montana: (202) 224-2651
- Deb Fischer of Nebraska: (202) 224-6551
- Lindsey Graham of South Carolina: (202) 224-5972
- Chuck Grassley of Iowa: (202) 224-3744
- Bill Hagerty of Tennessee: (202) 224-4944
- Josh Hawley of Missouri: (202) 224-6154
- John Hoeven of North Dakota: (202) 224-2551
- Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi: (202) 224-5054
- Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma: (202) 224-4721
- Ron Johnson of Wisconsin: (202) 224-5323
- John Kennedy of Louisiana: (202) 224-4623
- James Lankford of Oklahoma: (202) 224-5754
- Mike Lee of Utah: (202) 224-5444
- Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming: (202) 224-3424
- Joe Manchin of West Virginia: (202) 224-3954
- Roger Marshall of Kansas: (202) 224-4774
- Jerry Moran of Kansas: (202) 224-6521
- Lisa Murkowski of Alaska: (202) 224-6665
- Rand Paul of Kentucky: (202) 224-4343
- Rob Portman of Ohio: (202) 224-3353
- Jim Risch of Idaho: (202) 224-2752
- Mitt Romney of Utah: (202) 224-5251
- Mike Rounds of South Dakota: (202) 224-5842
- Marco Rubio of Florida: (202) 224-3041
- Ben Sasse of Nebraska: (202) 224-4224
- Tim Scott of South Carolina: (202) 224-6121
- Richard Shelby of Alabama: (202) 224-5744
- Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona: (202) 224-4521
- Dan Sullivan of Alaska: (202) 224-3004
- Thom Tillis of North Carolina: (202) 224-6342
- Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania: (202) 224-4254
- Tommy Tuberville of Alabama: (202) 224-4124
- Roger Wicker of Mississippi: (202) 224-6253
- Todd Young of Indiana: (202) 224-5623
Sources: NY Times, BuzzFeed, CNN