GIFFORDS responds to shootings killing 12 over weekend, calls on state leaders to act

WASHINGTON — GIFFORDS, the national gun violence prevention group led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, released the following statement after 12 people were killed, and dozens injured, in multiple shootings over the weekend. In Mississippi, a mass shooting left six dead and over a dozen injured after a homecoming football game. Four other shootings took place in the state this weekend, two at historically Black Mississippi universities and two at high schools, resulting in two additional deaths. Four more were killed and at least 20 were wounded at a bar shooting in South Carolina, and yet another shooting at an Alabama mall left one in critical condition. Gun violence remains the number one killer of children and teens in America.

“Homecoming celebrations and alumni reunions should be safe places to make memories and connect with friends – instead, 12 people were shot and killed attending them over the weekend. Easy access to guns made these traditions deadly. The number of young people killed by guns this past weekend is a uniquely American phenomenon—but our leaders refuse to enact the solutions we know save lives,” said GIFFORDS Executive Director Emma Brown.

“The carnage in Mississippi especially is no coincidence. Lawmakers there pride themselves on taking orders from gun industry CEOs and enacting the entire gun lobby agenda. The result is deadly gun crime—Mississippi’s gun death rate is more than double the national average. These deadly tragedies will continue as long as Gov. Tate Reeves puts CEO profits over Mississippians’ safety,” Brown added.