Guns are the weapon of choice for violent extremists.
We need laws that keep them out of their hands.
Add your name to demand action from our lawmakers.
John, my heart is broken. This Saturday in Jacksonville, Florida, three Black people were shot and killed in a hate-fueled act of gun violence.
I grieve for everyone who was killed, for their families, for the Jacksonville community, and for all Black people across this country who are feeling this pain in their soul.
The details of the shooting paint a grim picture—and white supremacy is at the center of it. The shooter, clad in tactical gear, initially entered the nearby Edward Waters University (EWU), a historically Black university, but was turned away by campus security. Then, armed with a Glock handgun and a Palmetto State Armory AR-15 rifle with swastikas on it, he traveled a few blocks over to a nearby Dollar General store. He opened fire both outside and inside the store, fatally shooting the three victims before killing himself.
This crisis is not inevitable. We must disarm hate to prevent tragedies like the shooting in Jacksonville.
|
To make matters worse, some lawmakers have exacerbated both anti-Black racism and gun violence. In their states and communities, they've restricted or outright banned the teaching of Black history in schools, sometimes replacing it with outright lies about the "benefits" of slavery. And at the same time, they've rejected gun safety legislation, instead choosing to pass laws that flood our communities with guns and make it easier for extremists to get their hands on a firearm. In this tragedy, like in many others, the shooter was able to quickly and legally purchase an assault weapon.
These policies only add fuel to the fire of white supremacy and hate-motivated gun violence. In an average year, over 25,000 hate crimes in the United States involve a firearm—more than 69 each day. And nearly half of race-based hate crimes target Black people.
We deserve better than to live in a country where hateful extremists are given easy access to deadly weapons and people are forced to live in fear of being shot and killed for who they are.
This tragedy is a stark reminder of the work that is needed to make America safer. Even though every western democracy has extremists, only in America do extremists have far too easy access to far too deadly weapons. Racism, white supremacy, and gun violence target Black people across this country in a deadly combination.
Thank you for being a part of this movement. Together, we'll make our communities safer for everyone.
Angela Ferrell-Zabala
She/Her/Hers
Executive Director
Moms Demand Action
