Independent researchers estimate that 100 people are killed daily with guns in the U.S. – and many more are injured. Guns are the second leading cause of death for all children and teens; it is the first for Black children and teens. On average, 52 women are shot to death each month by an intimate partner.
These statistics tell the impact of gun violence in American communities today. Behind each statistic is a mother, a father, a daughter, a teenager, a child. Gun violence could happen anywhere – in schools, in houses of worship, and in theaters. The surge in gun violence should not be underestimated even if, often, it rarely makes national news.
As Quakers, we believe that there is that of God in every person. We seek a society where everyone can fully live to their potential; the scourge of gun violence prevents far too many people from doing so. It is our goal to decrease gun violence by creating and implementing policies that reduce the number of guns and gun use in our communities.
To help reduce gun violence, the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) is focused on passing legislation that will require universal background checks for all gun purchases, secure funds to research this public health problem, and extreme risk laws to temporarily restrict access to guns. These commonsense goals will not only make our communities less violent, but they also have a lot of momentum in Congress.
You can read more of this article, and the rest of the July-August Washington Newsletter, below.
