We cannot afford to keep failing our young people.

Moms Demand Action

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:

Tweet from Shannon Watts. Unintentional shootings among children have risen by 30% in the past year.

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:
In two separate unintentional shootings, a 12-year-old boy shot and killed himself at a sleepover, and a 15-year-old boy was shot and remains in critical condition. (CBS8)

Manitou Springs, CO:
A 4-year-old boy found an unsecured firearm in a car and unintentionally shot and killed himself. (Associated Press)

Goodlettsville, TN:
An 8-year-old boy was unintentionally shot and killed at his home. (The Tennessean)

Sayre, OK:
A 5-year-old boy was unintentionally shot and killed while in a parked vehicle. (News9)

Jackson, MS:
A 1-year-old boy was unintentionally shot and killed by a 14-year-old, making him the third child killed by unintentional gun violence in Central Mississippi since June. (WAPT)

Waco, TX:
A 5-year-old boy unintentionally shot himself in the leg after his mother left a gun unsecured in the backseat of her car. (WSAV)

Virginia:
Two unintentional shootings occurred on the same day—an 8-year-old boy shot and seriously injured a 12-year-old boy, and a 3-year-old boy unintentionally shot and killed himself. (WFXR)

Knoxville, TN:
A 6-year-old boy died after unintentionally shooting himself. (WATE)

Jacksonville, FL:
A 15-year-old boy was unintentionally shot and killed by one of his best friends as he was attempting to clear the chamber. (Action News Jax)

Terrytown, LA:
A 3-year-old boy found an unsecured gun in the backseat of a car and unintentionally fired it, wounding a 30-year-old woman. (Associated Press)

Dolton, IL:
A 4-year-old boy was hospitalized after unintentionally shooting himself in the leg while playing with an unsecured gun. (The Times of Northwest Indiana)

West Plains, MO:
A 4-year-old girl died after finding an unsecured pistol in her home and unintentionally shooting herself. (KY3)

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.

Please, contribute $9 or whatever you can today to Moms Demand Action and Everytown to support our work to save lives and put an end to senseless gun tragedies.

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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