Dear John,

Yesterday we were deeply shaken to see the 2nd mass shooting in Texas this August.

5 dead. More than 20 wounded. From a highway between the towns of Odessa and Midland.

Our hearts are breaking for for the Odessa/Midland community in their grief. And now we are going to act and we are going to demand others act too.

No more lip service.

“We know that state leaders have been educated about smart ways to address gun violence and we expect them to do so,” said Gyl Switzer, Executive Director of Texas Gun Sense.

We are done with lip service from the powers-that-be, for business to then just go on as usual, the dead and wounded seemingly forgotten.

No more.

How many dead people are enough? How many wounded?

Friday, 10 teenagers were shot and wounded – half of them critically – at a football game in Mobile, Alabama.

No more lip service.

Last weekend, shootings in Chicago, Illinois claimed 6 lives. 23 wounded. No more lip service.

We know the solution to this horror, and it’s simple: Reduce access to guns.

Today I’m telling those glad-handing, lip-serving powers-that-be (those state and federal lawmakers alike who dig in their heels at needed change) to take a page from our awesome grassroots state leaders.

Our independent state-based gun violence prevention leaders work tirelessly to make change happen. Many for zero pay. They work every day, day in and day out, year after year, pushing for change.

It’s time for all of our state and federal leaders to do the same.

In solidarity against this madness,

Karen Abrams, Interim Executive Director

States United to Prevent Gun Violence

Check out what your state is doing to end gun violence!