December 14, 2025
Once again, we find ourselves struggling with the fact that firearms are the number one killer of children in America, as we watch the most recent school shooting unfold: A gunman shot and killed two students, and wounded several more at Brown University. Two of the students surviving this most recent preventable tragedy, have also escaped prior mass shooting: Mia Tretta, 21 was shot at Saugus High School, CA and Zoe Weissman, 20, was 12 when she witnessed the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL. The Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, which happened 13 years ago today, is a constant reminder that our national leaders have taken little action to stop gun violence, in over a decade.
We know that Congress should act now to stop this public health crisis that has claimed over 500,000 lives since Sandy Hook. We know that gun laws work to reduce violence. Last week, our board directors joined Newtown Action Alliance "Survivors on the Hill Advocacy Day" to support federal gun safety bills such as S.26 Ethan's Law for safe storage and S.2203 Break the Cycle of Violence Act. We also know that the likelihood that Congress will act is slim to none. This is why focussing on State laws and State advocacy is vital, now more than ever.
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“We know the solutions for ending gun violence in America. Across the country, we have seen States enact life-saving legislation that works, and chooses protecting our children over protecting guns, said Jeremy Stein, interim Board Chair with States United to Prevent Gun Violence. “We know this will happen again. We can no longer wait, and wonder whether our children will come home from school.” |
This will indeed happen again unless we act. In the absence of national legislation, we must support a 50-state solution to gun violence by supporting state-level work. The work of our State Affiliates to pass live-saving legislation is critical to ensuring the safety of our children and our families. Today it was Rhode Island. Tomorrow it might be your State.
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