Stand up to Gun Violence

by Francesca Acciardo

As we roll into Memorial Day weekend and many of us are planning summer vacations, looking forward to time off, and hopefully entering some lighter work months, I have found myself unable to think of much else besides the lives that have been lost recently in our country due to gun violence.

This week has been a heavy one in the United States. Despite being the 147th day of the year, there have been over 200 mass shootings in 2022 so far, and this week, as we all know, the second deadliest school shooting of all time took place in Uvalde, Texas.

19 children and 2 adults were killed in the worst school shooting since Sandy Hook, which took place 10 years ago in Newtown, Connecticut.

We all know that politics shouldn’t really come into conversation in the workplace. However, when it comes to gun safety, there is no political conversation to be had. Gun safety is not a political issue: it is a humanitarian issue. It is nothing but fact that the United States allows 18-year-olds who cannot legally purchase alcohol to purchase semi-automatic weapons.

Both the shooter at the elementary school in Uvalde, Texas and the shooter at the supermarket in Buffalo, New York earlier this month, legally purchased their guns; they were both 18 years old.

If you are feeling hopeless, angry, terrified, or at all impacted by the gun violence in the United States, here are a few resources to help support gun control legislation:

1. The easiest, quickest way to support is to text ACTION to 954–954 for updates on how you can join the cause.

2. Make a tax-free donation to Everytown. Everytown for Gun Safety is an American nonprofit organization which advocates for gun control and against gun violence. Now through May 31, Mike Bloomberg will triple match your gift.

3. Educate yourself on the National Rifle Association, the leaders in your state, and vote accordingly going forward

To help those impacted directly by the shooting this week in Uvalde, this article outlines four specific ways you can donate, volunteer, and support the survivors of this tragedy.