Last week, I tweeted about a gun meant to look like a toy. I've seen a lot of shocking news about guns, but this was...something else:
This is beyond irresponsible and dangerous. Our organization reached out to LEGO, who then sent a cease and desist letter to the reckless gun maker (he's reportedly complying).
The threat is not abstract: Firearms are the leading cause of death for children and teens in America. Even when guns don't look like toys, children may use them. Just in 2021, we've already seen nearly 200 incidents of unintentional shootings by children.
Here are some examples of unintentional child shootings from JUST THIS MONTH:
Near San Diego, CA: Manitou Springs, CO: Goodlettsville, TN: Sayre, OK: Jackson, MS: Waco, TX: Virginia: Knoxville, TN: Jacksonville, FL: Terrytown, LA: Dolton, IL: West Plains, MO: |
John, it's absolutely heartbreaking. And we're not giving up, not ever.
Across the country, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers have been advocating for secure storage legislation. Currently, nine states have passed secure storage laws including Oregon, Colorado, and Maine during the 2021 legislative session. Secure storage is a proven way to cut down on unintentional shootings, gun suicides, and school shootings.
Our volunteers are organizing in their communities every single day, bringing the call to action to school board meetings, to community groups, to law enforcement, to doctors' offices—and of course, to our elected leaders.
We can't keep failing our country's young people. That's why we count on supporters like you:
When you make a grassroots contribution to Moms Demand Action and Everytown, you're helping fuel our volunteer-driven movement for a future free from gun violence.
Making change on this scale isn't easy, but with a movement of more than six million people, we have the power to make it happen—and it’s working. Thank you for being a part of it.
Shannon Watts
Founder
Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
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