States United to Prevent Gun Violence, and its 31 affiliate state gun violence prevention organizations, are saddened and horrified by today’s shooting at the Pulse Night Club in Orlando, FL. Saddened and horrified, but not shocked. We are no longer surprised when someone motivated by hatred is able to easily obtain assault-style weapons and rounds upon rounds of ammunition, turning another place of joy and celebration into a site of devastation and mourning.

Reports indicate that this shooting — with fifty killed and at least fifty more injured — is the deadliest mass shooting in American history. The shooter was an American citizen and officials are investigating this as an act of terrorism. In truth, every mass shooting is an act of terrorism —  it incites fear and terror and aims to create chaos and panic.

In the coming days, we will learn more about the shooter, and more about the victims, survivors and heroes who braved danger to help others. We will mourn with the grieving families and friends as they lay their loved ones to rest. We will listen to politicians express platitudes while doing nothing to keep the weapons of war off our streets. So while we send our thoughts and prayers to the victims and survivors, we also pledge to honor them with a demand for action NOW for stronger gun laws and commonsense policies to keep our loved ones safe.

Arizonans for Gun Safety
Women Against Gun Violence
Colorado Ceasefire
Connecticut Against Gun Violence Ed Fund
Delaware Coalition Against Gun Violence Ed Fund
Georgians for Gun Safety
Hawaii Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence
Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence
Hoosiers Concerned About Gun Violence
Iowans for Gun Safety 
Maine Gun Safety Coalition
Marylanders to Prevent Gun Violence 
Stop Handgun Violence
Michigan Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence
Protect Minnesota
Grandparents Against Gun Violence (MO)
Coalition of Nebraskans Against Gun Violence
New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence
New Yorkers Against Gun Violence
North Carolinians Against Gun Violence Education Fund
Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence
Oklahoma Gun Sense
Ceasefire Oregon
Ceasefire Pennsylvania
Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence
The Safe Tennessee Project
Texas Gun Sense
Gun Violence Prevention Center of Utah
Virginia Center for Public Safety
Washington CeaseFire
Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort Ed Fund
States United to Prevent Gun Violence 

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States United to Prevent Gun Violence is a non-profit organization dedicated to making our families and communities safer. As part of our 50 State Solution to end gun violence, we support our 31 existing state-based gun violence prevention groups and work to bring new partners into the movement.

 

Facing the truth about gun violence in PA