Washington, D.C., October 6, 2019 — Nine people were shot, four fatally, in Kansas City, KS, early Sunday morning. At least one gunman walked into Tequila KC, a private bar frequented by members of the Latinx community, and began firing. The four individuals killed have been described by police as “Hispanic males,” ranging in age from mid-20s to early-50s.
While police say there are no signs that the attack was racially motivated, it marks the second shooting in recent months to target members of the Latinx community. In August, a shooter killed 22 people at an El Paso Walmart. The shooting at Pulse nightclub in 2016 also occurred during the nightclub’s popular Latin night. Polls conducted by Univision Noticias show that the shootings may have had an impact on Hispanic voters and their feelings toward prioritization of gun reform. Two recent polls show that the number of Hispanic voters who believe mass shootings should be a top priority for Congress has more than doubled in recent months.
Brady President Kris Brown stated,
“There have been more than 320 mass shootings so far in 2019, and 100 people are killed every single day by gun violence in America. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he’s waiting for guidance from the President before taking up any gun reform measures. Meanwhile, the President is seeking assistance from the NRA as he faces impeachment proceedings. This is not how Congress should work. If McConnell needs to brush up on how a bill becomes a law, we have plenty of students who’d be willing to help. The President doesn’t get to dictate the legislative process, and his impeachment proceedings shouldn’t distract from the everyday reality that people are dying. It’s horrible to see the Latinx community once again targeted. Whether or not this shooting was racially motivated, Black and Brown communities are disproportionately impacted by gun violence. Just this weekend nearly 100 shootings occurred where at least one individual was wounded, and nearly 50 where someone was killed. In Chicago alone, three people were killed and five were injured. This has got to stop.”
Little has been done to address gun violence in Kansas. While the state recently implemented a law to prohibit certain domestic abusers from acquiring or possessing guns, it does not have a number of life-saving laws such as expanded background checks or extreme risk laws, and the state allows for permitless carry. While the shooter(s) have not yet been identified, as always, Brady encourages law enforcement to consider how the gunman obtained the weapon.
Brady has one powerful mission — to unite all Americans against gun violence. We work across Congress, the courts, and our communities with over 90 grassroots chapters, bringing together young and old, red and blue, and every shade of color to find common ground in common sense. In the spirit of our namesakes Jim and Sarah Brady, we have fought for over 45 years to take action, not sides, and we will not stop until this epidemic ends. It’s in our hands.
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