Murder at the Victory Parade

At what point do we say, enough is enough? The shooting at the Super Bowl Victory Parade tells us that at this point, the arms we allow civilians are a threat to America's way of life. On an occasion which should mark the solidarity and harmony of the U.S., we instead have one dead and nine children, aged 6 to 15, shot and recovering in nearby hospitals. This is out of a total 22 people dead and injured at the victory parade. 

Not only has this shooting been tragic, it is not the only Valentine's Day shooting we have had. Parkland, which saw 17 dead in a Florida high school, happened just six years ago. In 2023, there were almost double as many mass shootings as days in the year. Each year since 2020 has averaged about 600 shootings a year, or almost two per day. 40,000 people died due to gun violence in 2023: this is an epidemic. 

We need common-sense gun legislation. One step in that direction is reevaluating what weapons everyday people, including those with severe mental illness, have unrestricted access to purchase. 

In a study by Pew Research, we see that over 90% of those polled believe that some restrictions should be in place for people who suffer from mental illness. There is also a growing trend in the number of those that believe assault-style weapons should be banned, or heavily restricted.

And while the stigma around mental illness continues to be pervasive in our culture, we must also take into account the types of behavior and patterns that tend to manifest into a mass shooting event. 

It is possible to achieve both better mental healthcare, as well as better policies on gun ownership. 
 

It starts with begging the question: why does anyone need a weapon of war? 
The AR-15 has been used in a staggering amount of mass-shooting events. But other assault-style weapons with high-magazine capacity have also been a go-to for these tragedies. 

And the reasoning is simple: these weapons were designed and sold to cause a mass amount of damage in WAR. 

An elementary school isn’t a warzone.
A concert isn’t a warzone.
A family gathering isn’t a warzone. 

But with the massive appeal and availability of these weapons, we have seen them become those sights of horrific violence.

There is a better way forward, and we believe it starts with our voices and our efforts. Please know we are committed to ending this epidemic of gun violence and are so grateful for the support you give that allows us to press for a better tomorrow every day.