Washington, D.C., January 31, 2023 – Today, a broad coalition of 110+ gun violence prevention organizations sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to announce a comprehensive plan to address gun violence and reduce gun deaths at next week’s State of the Union address. The letter, signed by upwards of 100 organizations – including Brady, Community Justice Action Fund, Giffords, Guns Down America, March for Our Lives, and the Newtown Action Alliance – applauded the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts in addressing the issue of gun violence in the first two years of his presidency but highlighted the continued high rate of gun deaths and injuries in the country. Specifically, the letter called on President Biden to:
Declare a national emergency around the epidemic of gun violence and establish a federal office of gun violence prevention;
Commit $5 billion in funding for community violence intervention programs;
Take a series of executive actions to reduce gun deaths; and
Outline a detailed plan to fully implement the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
“In the first few weeks of 2023, at least 69 people have been killed in mass shootings, including multiple tragedies in California, Florida, and Louisiana, and thousands of lives have been lost to interpersonal gun violence and firearm suicide,” the letter said. “While Congress must continue to prioritize gun violence prevention, you have the opportunity to act boldly by announcing a comprehensive plan of action to reduce gun deaths.”
The full letter can be found here.
Signers of the letter said:
“The gun violence crisis in our country is reaching a breaking point, and it's time for our leaders in Washington to take bold and decisive action. New data analyzed by Brady shows the U.S. has suffered record-levels of mass shootings and firearm deaths.
“President Biden has already taken strong actions to reduce gun violence and has an opportunity to save more lives by announcing a comprehensive plan to reduce gun deaths. We urge him to take this opportunity to continue his legacy in addressing gun violence by continuing to make gun violence prevention a top priority for his administration in 2023.”
– Brady President Kris Brown
“Gun violence has become the leading health crisis for Black America. With this crisis now the leading cause of premature death for Black youth and Black men, the time to take action is more urgent than ever. We know that the most impactful way to reduce violence in our communities happening every day is to invest in the hundreds of life saving community violence intervention and prevention programs that are active but under funded across the country.”
– Greg Jackson, Executive Director at Community Justice Action Fund
“For years, survivors, impacted communities, and advocates have urged President Biden to outline a comprehensive plan of action for reducing gun deaths. The scope of the gun violence crisis demands a significantly higher level of leadership from this President and he must announce concrete steps to save lives when he addresses a nation horrified by the uptick in gun violence on February 7th.”
– Igor Volsky, Executive Director at Guns Down America.
"Two years into his administration, the President continues to leave many powerful tools on the table. As gun violence has surged to become the top killer of young people in America, we simply cannot afford not to do everything in our power to put an end to it. With Congress deadlocked, our lives depend on the President's action. Young people across the country are meeting the moment with our activism and we're urging the President to be bold and courageous in fighting the gun violence epidemic."
– Trevon Bosley, youth Board Member at March For Our Lives
“Over one million Americans have been shot during the last decade since my neighbor killed 20 children and six educators in Sandy Hook Elementary School. We have witnessed too many families and communities being impacted by devastating senseless preventable gun violence and the survivor community has grown each year. Gun violence is a public health crisis that requires a comprehensive solution and we urge President Biden to continue to make gun violence prevention an urgent priority for the federal government. He can begin with presenting his vision and solutions for a safer America at the State of the Union.“
– Po Murray, Chairwoman of Newtown Action Alliance
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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