I so deeply wish I did not have to write to you like this again, John.

I wish that people weren’t waking up this morning with the pit in their stomach that’s left when a loved one’s life is stolen by a gunman. I wish that one of the most devastating days in the lives of the survivors in Allen, TX, was not just another normal day in the United States.

But this is the reality of a country that refuses to address its gun violence epidemic: Yesterday afternoon, a gunman armed with an AR-15-style rifle killed at least eight people and injured seven more at a mall in Allen, TX. 

This is the third high-profile mass shooting in the US this week – two of which happened in the state of Texas. This is the 199th shooting in the US this year.

These massacres keep happening because lawmakers have failed to ban the weapon of choice for mass shooters. In the wake of yet another devastating tragedy, we are demanding their action to stop this assault on the American people: Please, John, add your name to our urgent call for an assault weapons ban now. >>

Assault weapons are designed for the battlefield, not for the mall, nor the grocery store, nor school, nor churches, nor nightclubs. Yet they remain in our communities, used by gunmen who want to cause the most harm in the least amount of time.

It is unconscionable for our lawmakers to remain idle when people are dying from gun violence every single day. Their inaction is made worse by the fact that they know the answers that can save lives – like banning weapons of war from our streets. If continued tragedies won’t force Congress to do their duty to protect us, then let it be our collective outrage. 

I won’t accept this as our country’s reality, John – none of us can. Please, help ensure our lawmakers do not ignore this latest mass shooting: Add your name to our petition to ban assault weapons now.

Thank you for taking action in the face of tragedy. 

Liz Dunning 

Gun Violence Survivor

Vice President of Development and Partnerships

Thank you for joining us in honoring the eight people who were senselessly killed in Allen, TX. All of us at Brady are holding the community in our hearts.