Mass Shooting in Chicago a Painful Reminder of Need for Immediate Action on Gun Violence

July 22, 2020 — Yesterday, 15 people attending the funeral of a victim of gun violence were wounded in a mass shooting. Giffords, the gun violence prevention group led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, continues to monitor gun violence across the country and advocate for policy solutions to address the ongoing epidemic. In response to yesterday’s tragic shooting, Giffords released the following statement:

“Gun violence continues to ravage communities across the country. Yesterday, as family and friends gathered to mourn a life taken by gun violence, 15 people became victims themselves. We’re hopeful that they will survive and know that many will have a long, painful recovery ahead,” said Robyn Thomas, Executive Director of the Giffords Law Center.

“This violence is not normal nor is it inevitable. We can do something about it if we stand up and demand change.

“There is no one solution to all gun violence in America, but starting today we can enact policies that will save lives. We can and must fund more community-based violence intervention programs that have disrupted cycles of violence in so many cities. Congress must act on universal background checks. And we all must vote for state, local, and federal candidates who support gun safety laws.

“As a nation, we must unite and show the courage to end gun violence.”