Gun violence has worked its way into nearly every aspect of American life, and national gun violence rates are on the rise. But there is good news: in states committed to gun safety reform, the gun death rates are significantly lower. 

Unfortunately, the inverse is also true. Of the 20 states with the highest gun death rates, 17 received Fs for their gun laws and none received As. Mississippi, a state with some of the weakest gun laws in the country, has 10 times the gun death rate of Massachusetts, which boasts some of the strongest laws. America’s inconsistent patchwork of gun safety laws leaves all of us vulnerable—guns from states with weak laws cross state lines, undermining progress and driving violence rates up, particularly in cities.

Until every state across the country stands up to the gun lobby and follows the lead of states with comprehensive gun safety laws, gun violence will continue to plague our communities.