Gun violence is the number one cause of death among American children and teens, and homicides and suicides involving guns have reached their highest rates in three decades.² One survey found that over seven in ten adults cited gun violence as a significant source of stress,³ with women, Latinos, and Black people being most likely to give this response.⁴

At last week’s March for Our Lives: PA Advocacy Day in Harrisburg, 400 Pennsylvanians rallied, testified, and yes, shared their stories. Stories of loss, grief, and yet also of resilience, passion and commitment to making lifesaving solutions a reality.

If you have a story to tell about how gun violence has impacted your life or the life of someone you know, we want to hear from you. You don’t need to have been shot personally or had a loved one taken to be impacted by gun violence. It could be a change to your daily routine or a tendency to check for exits in crowded places. You may not even consciously realize it.

Your story can help us raise awareness about the devastating impact of gun violence and inspire change in our Commonwealth. Share your story with us, and let's work together to end gun violence in Pennsylvania.

Sincerely,

Adam Garber

Executive Director

CeaseFirePA Education Fund

¹ https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/22/well/mind/threat-gun-violence-impact.html

2 https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/12/22/1144864971/american-life-expectancy-is-now-at-its-lowest-in-nearly-two-decades

^{3 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/06/health/guns-homicides-suicides-cdc.html}

^{4 https://www.bu.edu/sph/news/articles/2022/racial-disparities-in-child-exposure-to-gun-violence-worsened-during-covid}