The last couple of weeks have been….something. I don’t think anyone expected a global pandemic would be the biggest thing going on in 2020. This is a long email, but a goodie. We have:

• An action to take if you have some minutes to spare
• Resources if you’re feeling unsafe at home or if social distancing is really affecting you
• A guide on how to prevent accidental home shootings with more kids learning from home
• A teaser about what’s to come

We know everyone’s lives are changing in some major ways. Maybe you’re not at school anymore, maybe you’re going to work because your job is vital for all of us, maybe you can’t quit your job because you need the income, or maybe you lost your job. While we’re all figuring out how to adjust, we want you to know we’re here. And we’re not going anywhere. 

We’re going to bring you some more actions next week (watch your inbox!), but for now, here's an immediate action you can take to make a difference.

Take the census! You know what’s almost as important as voting? The census. It determines the number of congressional seats your state gets, how federal funding is allocated, and a bunch of other really important decisions that the government makes. This directly impacts what resources your local leaders will have to prevent gun violence. But all too often young people and Black, Indigenous, and people of color are undercounted and, therefore, underrepresented and under resourced. If you’re too young to take it, then lead by example and help the adults in your household fill it out! You do not have to be a documented citizen to take or be counted in the census. There is NOT a citizenship question on the census.

These are tough times. And sadly, one public health crisis doesn’t stop for another. The gun violence epidemic will not stop for COVID-19. Accidental shootings, domestic violence, and suicide rates are all expected to rise. Even during this crisis, we need to look out for each other and advocate for peace.

We know a hotline isn’t a perfect solution, but it really can help in moments of crisis. Here are some hotlines and other resources to keep handy for yourself or anyone you know that may need it:

• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1−800−799−7233
• National Domestic Violence Online Chat
• National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741-741
• Disaster Distress Hotline: 1-800-985-5990
• Distress Text Option for folks who are Hard of Hearing and Deaf: Text TalkWithUs to 66746
• Disaster Distress Hotline for Spanish speakers: Call 1-800-985-5990 and press "2"

Finally, a gun won’t prevent a virus. But all across the country, people are stockpiling firearms, meanwhile more kids are at home for the foreseeable future. Here’s a guide to prevent accidental shootings from our friends at Brady. It is estimated that 4.6 million American youth live in homes with loaded, unsecured firearms and every day, 8 kids are unintentionally injured or killed by unlocked guns in people’s homes. We pray this number doesn’t rise with more schools closing and more families socially distancing -- and we continue to call on lawmakers to enact safe storage laws that would save young lives from accidental shootings and suicide.

We’ll touch base again next week with a bigger announcement about how you can take action during this scary, uncertain time. For now, stay inside if you can, wash your hands, and take care of yourself, friends. 

Talk soon,

Ariel Hobbs, David Hogg, and Bria Smith, Board Members
Alexis Confer, Executive Director
March For Our Lives