From Moms Rising (https://www.momsrising.org/):
It’s February, and already the number of gun deaths in the United States is estimated to surpass the number of gun deaths in similar countries combined over the entire year. [1] And it’s only February.
America’s gun death rate is now 11 times greater than that of our peer countries. [2] But beyond the shocking statistics are the lived experiences of real people. That’s why February 1 kicks off the fourth annual National Gun Violence Survivors Week.
→ Please share your experience of gun violence with us TODAY at https://action.momsrising.org/survey/GVPStories – so we can powerfully uplift the need for stronger gun control laws with elected leaders.
A few weeks ago, Keely in North Carolina, reached out to tell us her family’s story:
*Trigger Warning: Following contains content around suicide, mental health, and gun violence that may be triggering for someone with this trauma.
“In the last eight years I’ve had three relatives die by suicide. My brother was one of these deaths. When his first son was born he and his wife decided they should buy gifts for themselves. She bought a pair of khaki pants that fit and he bought an AK-47… He has a picture holding his brand new baby son in one arm smiling ear to ear with his AK-47 in the other. Little did we know that it would be a gun that would take his sons’ father away from them…” [3 for Keely’s full story]
Gun violence is an American tragedy with no end in sight. Over half (58%) of adults or someone they care for have experienced gun violence, and that percentage climbs to 68% for Black and Latinx adults. [4] Approximately 200 people survive gunshot wounds every day in the United States. [5]
Your story is powerful. We are asking for your story to help other survivors feel less alone in their struggles; and, importantly, stories from survivors like you can move lawmakers and change policies. By sharing the stories behind hard-to-grasp statistics, we highlight the impact that gun violence has on people in our country and honor those whose lives have been lost to gun violence.
Please click here to share your personal experience of gun violence.
We use the term ‘survivor’ for anyone who has personally experienced gun violence, including gun homicides, gun suicides, domestic violence involving a gun, unintentional shootings, and more. You will get to decide how your story is shared, including whether or not you want to stay anonymous.
Together, we can stand together and support each other. Together, by sharing our personal lived experiences, we can build a safer country for our families and communities.
References:
[1] Everytown: Moments that Survive[2] A Nation of Survivors: The Toll of Gun Violence in America
[3] “Guns kill, stories heal,” MomsRising blog
[4] A Nation of Survivors: The Toll of Gun Violence in America
[5] Everytown: Moments that Survive
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