We Are Highland Park

In July 2022, a shooter used an assault weapon and large-capacity magazines to kill seven people, wound dozens of others, and impact thousands during a July 4th parade in Highland Park, IL.

Independence Day is a uniquely American holiday, honoring the values of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The mass shooting that took place that day wasn't just an attack on the Highland Park community, it was an attack on the very sense of safety and freedom that day was meant to celebrate.

The harrowing reality is that we are all Highland Park.

We are all grappling with the deadly impact and psychological grip of gun violence in the United States. And we are all at risk of being shot, whether we are marching in a parade, in class at school, shopping at the grocery store, or simply walking down the street.

That's why we are calling on our lawmakers, those who have sworn to defend our welfare and liberty, to protect our freedom from gun violence and the fear and trauma it instills.

Join us in demanding that Congress pass a ban on assault weapons.

READ THE OPEN LETTER

Dear Congress,

We are friends, neighbors, and loved ones. We are parents, advocates, elected officials, and survivors. We are teachers, health care professionals, and community leaders. Our country prides itself on our long-held values of freedom and independence. But those values are under attack by an epidemic of gun violence. We are calling on you, our lawmakers who have sworn to defend the welfare and liberty of the people, to protect our freedom and lives by passing legislation to ban assault weapons.

One year ago on July 4, 2022, a shooter used an assault weapon and large-capacity magazines to kill seven people and wound dozens of others during a uniquely American Independence Day parade in Highland Park, IL. This wasn’t just an attack on the community of Highland Park. It was an attack on the sense of safety and freedom of all Americans, especially on what should have been a celebration of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

We are all Highland Park. We are all at risk of being shot, whether we are marching in a parade, in class at school, shopping at the grocery store, or simply walking down the street.

The shooting in Highland Park was the 309th mass shooting of 2022. Already in 2023, we’ve surpassed that marker and had more mass shootings than days in the year. Assault weapons are weapons of mass destruction. They are the weapons of choice for America’s mass shooters because they have one purpose: to kill as many people as possible, as quickly as possible. In shootings where they are used, 155% more people are shot and 47% more people are killed.

In the absence of a national assault weapons ban, states and localities, including Highland Park, have taken steps to protect their communities and ban these weapons of war. But without federal action, we are all left vulnerable. That’s why we are joining together this Independence Day to demand that Congress pass a ban on assault weapons. Every day we wait, more people will die. Please, honor our most American holiday by freeing us from the threat of gun violence and terrorism that we face today and every day.

Signed,

Mayor Nancy R. Rotering, Highland Park

Brady: United Against Gun Violence

Advocates For Change

Alliance for Gun Responsibility

American Federation of Teachers

American Medical Women's Association

Americans Against Gun Violence

Battle Born Progress

Brady PAC

Brave New Films

California State Senator Catherine Blakespear (CA-38)

Calvary Presbyterian Church

CeaseFire PA

Change the Ref

Chi-Town Gun Violence Prevention Summit

Colorado Ceasefire Legislative Action

Colorado State Senator Rhonda Fields (CO-28)

Delaware Coalition Against Gun Violence

DesignedMind Data & Analytics

DJR Global Concepts, LLC

Doctors of America

Dr. Joe Sakran, trauma surgeon

Enough Gun Violence

Fred Guttenberg, Parkland dad and advocate

Friends of Lakeside Village

Gays Against Guns

Gays Against Guns New York

Grace Cathedral, San Francisco

Guns Down America

Gun Violence Prevention PAC

Honor with Action Coalition

Hope and Heal Fund

Indivisible

Loyola Stands Against Gun Violence

Lutheran Social Services of Northern California

March For Our Lives

Marylanders to Prevent Gun Violence

Michigan State Representative Felicia Brabec (MI-33)

Michigan State Representative Lori Stone (MI-13)

Michigan State Representative Stephanie Young (MI-16)

National Council of Jewish Women

National Council of Jewish Women, Essex County

National Education Association

National Parent Teacher Association

New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center

New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence

Newtown Action Alliance

New Yorkers Against Gun Violence

North Carolinians Against Gun Violence

Ohio Council of Churches

Older Women's League - San Francisco

Old First Presbyterian Church - San Francisco

One Aim Illinois

Orange Ribbons for Gun Safety

Oregon Alliance for Gun Safety

Patrick Boyle, Commissioner of St. Louis County, MN

Protect Minnesota

Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism

Remembering Darien Victims Foundation

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital

Safer Country

San Diegans for Gun Violence Prevention

San Francisco Interfaith Council

San Francisco Islamic School

St. Louis County, MN Commissioner Patrick Boyle

Stop Handgun Violence

Sunnyvale Citizens for Sensible Gun Measures

Survivors Lead

Swan Isle Press

Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence

Team ENOUGH

The Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus

The Fudge Foundation

This is Our Lane

Thomas Gabor LLC, Author

Torrey Pines Democratic Club

Village of Northbrook, Illinois

Virginia State Senator Barbara Favola (VA-31)

Virginia State Senator David Marsden (VA-37)

Virginia State Senator Ghazala Hashmi (VA-10)

Virginia State Senator Jennifer Boysko (VA-33)

Virginia State Senator R. Creigh Deeds (VA-25)

Washington State Representative Amy Walen (WA-48)

Washington State Representative Liz Berry (WA-36)

Women Against Gun Violence

Women for American Values and Ethics (WAVE)

MORE WAYS TO TAKE ACTION

SHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Gun violence shouldn’t be as American as the #4thofJuly. A year after Americans were gunned down at a #July4th parade in Highland Park, I'm joining @NancyRotering & @bradybuzz in demanding action to #EndGunViolence. Join me. #WeAreHighlandPark
Tweet This Now
LEARN MORE ABOUT ASSAULT WEAPONS

Assault weapons were designed for military use and quick, efficient killing. In incidents where these weapons are used, 155% more people are shot.
Learn More

We Are Highland Park

#WEAREHIGHLANDPARK

READ THE OPEN LETTER

MORE WAYS TO TAKE ACTION