From the Executive Director
Hello and welcome to our June Newsletter.
“You can blow out a candle, but you can’t blow out a fire. Once the flames begin to catch, the wind will blow it higher” (Lyrics from”Biko” by Peter Gabriel, referencing anti-apartheid activist Bantu Stephen Biko)
So much is happening right now. The candle flicker of gun violence prevention has caught fire and this is our time to make change. This month’s Campaign newsletter provides a brief recap of where we are, along with action items so you can raise your voice with us. We grieve with the families of Buffalo, Uvalde, and Tulsa. We also know countless communities all across the US have been affected, as the rate of daily gun violence incidents continues at a record high level.
The Campaign, along with many other organizations & colleagues around the country, are continuing to fight for change. We won’t let this moment pass without doing all we can for gun reform in our country. The gun lobby is holding its collective breath, thinking once the press moves onto another issue and certain politicians wring their hands calling for thoughts & prayers, things will die down and nothing will change. That is not going to happen – this is our time!
Today is #WearOrange Day – (We are pushing to make it Gun Violence Awareness Week) – where advocacy organizations like The Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus ask members to wear Orange and take actions to reduce gun deaths & injuries. The Wear Orange Campaign was inspired by 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton, a talented Chicagoan who was gunned down in a park 9 years ago, just one week after performing at President Obama’s 2nd Inaugural Parade.
Our main focus now is to promote the passing of major gun reform in Washington and in some of the state legislatures still in session. We cannot let this moment pass.
We are also very concerned by statements from some elected officials and the gun lobby seeking deceptively simple solutions to school shootings that will put more guns into K-12 schools by arming teachers and other school personnel. More guns in our schools is not the answer. See links below for our recent statements & press clips.
In terms of the actions you can take, in Congress there is an omnibus bill moving in the House of Representatives that includes several good measures (more is needed). The Senate must also be pressured to act. On the state level, New York just passed a major 10-point gun reform package (great work NYAGV!). See our action center below to contact your federal & state elected officials.
In addition to taking legislative actions, we have also created resource areas where folks can provide support to those in Buffalo, NY and Uvalde, TX (see below).
Finally, thank you for taking action when we ask and for supporting The Campaign with your gifts. Your generous donations, especially over these last violent weeks, as well as throughout the year, make a huge difference. You generosity allows this work to continue, saving even more lives.
Please help go the next mile with us by making a donation to The Campaign today.
Thanks for all you do!
Andy Pelosi, Executive Director
