42,596. That’s the number of people killed by guns so far this year—more than 122 people every day. At least another 38,618 people have been wounded. In total, more than 5,000 children and teens have been shot.

We know we’ve been sounding the alarm for months that the pandemic is only accelerating the gun violence epidemic. But as 2021 comes to a close, we’re reflecting on just how big a toll this crisis takes on our communities.

Please give $22 to help fund the fight to prevent gun violence >>>

In a speech on the Senate floor last month, Sen. Chris Murphy summed up the gun violence epidemic powerfully: “We’re not unlucky,” he said. “This is purposeful. This is a choice made by the United States Senate to sit on our hands and do nothing while kids die.”

We refuse to sit idly by while our elected leaders sit on their hands and do nothing while people die. We have overcome indifference and despair and fierce opposition before. That’s how we have been able to pass the more than 30 gun responsibility policies that we have. But we cannot slow down now. We know the price of inaction: it’s 122 lives a day.

It is going to take each and every one of us stepping up and digging deep to make the bold progress we so desperately need. We need your help to ensure that our 2022 plans to prohibit high-capacity magazines, reject armed intimidation, and save lives become reality.

Please, give now to support our lifesaving work.

Sincerely,
Renée (she/her)