October 2, 2017
Another day, another deadly shooting in America. Our hearts go out to the people of Las Vegas, who are suffering today from an unimagined horror. Last night’s massacre is another reminder that no one is safe when access to guns is so easy. We’re heartbroken and horrified for those involved as well as the community as a whole.
While the investigation continues and details continue to emerge, we must face the reality that one more American town is just the latest in a growing list of cities ravaged by senseless gun violence. To Columbine, Charleston, Sandy Hook, Virginia Tech and Orlando we can now add Las Vegas, which has become the deadliest shooting in American history.
Prior to last night, the Pulse shooting that took place just over a year ago, where 49 innocent people were killed and 53 other were injured, held the record for the deadliest mass shooting in United States history. Pride Fund to End Gun Violence was formed in the immediate wake of the Pulse shooting, and is organized for the purpose of raising and spending money for candidates at the state and federal level who support common sense gun reforms and champion LGBTQ equality.
The Pride Fund to End Gun Violence supports requiring background checks for all gun sales, prohibiting suspected terrorists from purchasing guns, restricting access to assault weapons, like the ones used in last night’s shooting, and high capacity magazines, preventing those convicted of hate crimes from purchasing guns, and undertaking federally funded research on gun violence. No other country faces the daily onslaught of shootings and murders that the United States does, where 93 people are killed every day by gun violence. For too long, lawmakers have failed in their responsibility to ensure the public safety by not taking action.
Just last week, Congress voted on legislation to deregulate silencers that would have made last night’s shooting even more deadly. The SHARE Act (Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement) would have a disastrous impact on public safety and law enforcement by deregulating silencers, and weakening the regulation of interstate firearm transport and the regulation of armor-piercing ammunition. This bill undermines law enforcement officers, threatening their safety and making it more difficult for them to do their jobs. Had last night’s shooter been armed with a silencer, more innocent people would have been killed.
90 percent of Americans support commonsense gun reforms like expanding universal background checks. However, lawmakers in Congress have prioritized the special interests of the gun lobby at the expense of American lives. The death toll in Las Vegas is now up to 58 dead and over 500 injured. We hope that this will be enough to motivate Congress to finally take action on the gun violence epidemic.
The Pulse massacre in Orlando last year brought into clear focus how the easy availability of weapons and ammunition intended for the battlefield is impacting everyday life in America. It’s time for it to stop. While critics will say now is not the time to discuss gun reform, we disagree — now is the perfect time for such a discussion.
About the Pride Fund to End Gun Violence
Pride Fund to End Gun Violence (Pride Fund) is a Political Action Committee (PAC), organized for the purpose of raising and spending money to elect pro-LGBTQ candidates at the federal and local level who support sensible gun reforms.
To learn more, visit www.pridefund.org . Like us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/pridefund and follow on Twitter: @Pride_Fund
PO Box 32377
Washington, DC 20007
For more information, contact Taylor Houston at (860) 884-8853