COUNTDOWN: New Campaign Shows Heat of Gun Violence Scorching America
August 1, 2017 —Today, as summer blazes into August, a season when gun violence in America hits highs, Americans for Responsible Solutions kicked-off a new social media campaign, “ 31 Days Under the Gun.” Every day throughout the month, the gun safety organization, launched by former Representative Gabrielle Giffords, will share a fact that illustrates the toll gun violence in America is having on our communities. At a time when the Washington gun lobby is pushing for reckless, dangerous bills that sacrifice public safety, these facts will serve as a call to action for necessary, common sense solutions to save lives and make our communities safer.
“As elected leaders depart of August recess, they’re heading home at a time of year when gun violence heats up across the country. The sad reality of summer is that the hottest months almost always result in a surge of gun violence,” said Peter Ambler, Executive Director for Americans for Responsible Solutions. “When newspaper headlines start reporting spikes in gun violence, Americans need to remember that this is not normal. Americans are 25 times more likely to be killed by a gun than people in other countries – and it doesn’t need to be this way. As concerned citizens head to town halls and meet with their elected officials in their communities, they should call on them to take action to reduce the gun violence tearing apart our communities.”
With over 33,000 people killed with a gun every year, this social media campaign will draw attention to the ways America’s gun violence crisis affects everyone — from law enforcement officials to women and children. The oppressive trend of gun violence has stripped us of our sense of safety, and the only way forward is with innovative, commonsense solutions that the American public overwhelmingly supports.
At a time when Congress should be finding solutions to a national problem, the Washington gun lobby has been working to erode existing laws that keep us safe. Despite the fact that many law enforcement organizations and
- Federally Mandated Concealed Carry would mandate that each state recognize concealed carry permits from every other state, undermining states with strong gun laws by forcing them to comply with lax gun laws, and putting law enforcement at risk.
- Deregulating Gun Silencers would roll back a more than 80 year-old federal law that has prevented dangerous people from obtaining gun silencers, which mask muzzle flashes and the sound of gunfire making it more difficult to locate an active shooter. If deregulated, criminals could easily obtain silencers, increasing the likelihood of ambush-style attacks, including those directed at police, which reached a 20 year high just last year.
- Risking Veterans’ Safety would prohibit the Veterans Administration from reporting veterans who are severely mentally ill to the federal background check system. This would mean that veterans with serious and debilitating mental illness could pass a background check and obtain a gun, despite the growing epidemic of veteran suicide. An average of 20 veterans die by suicide per day in the United States; two-thirds use a firearm to take their lives. Military leaders across all branches of the armed forces oppose this policy.
- Guns in Schools would repeal the Gun-Free School Zones Act, and instead allow firearms inside K–12 schools. After this law was passed in 1990, school-associated student homicide rates decreased significantly. Allowing guns in schools poses a clear, demonstrable danger to our students, teachers, and communities.
Follow the campaign here.
For more information, or to arrange an interview, email press@responsiblesolutio