Brady Responds to Shooting Rampage in Memphis,…

Yet Again, a Community was Terrorized by a Gunman Who Never Should Have Been Able to Access a Firearm.

Washington, D.C., September 8, 2022 – Four people are dead, three are injured, and thousands are traumatized after yet another tragic and preventable shooting spree, this one in Memphis, Tennessee, on Wednesday.

Brady expresses outrage that the public was terrorized for hours by a shooter who had a record of violent criminal behavior resulting in a felony conviction, which precluded the individual from legally possessing a firearm.

Kris Brown, President of Brady, stated:

“Yet again, a community was terrorized by a gunman who never should have been able to access a firearm. This hours-long rampage caused lockdowns at area schools, universities, workplaces, a baseball stadium, and more, with public bus services suspended and countless lives upended. Four people were senselessly killed. If we want to properly honor these victims, law enforcement must investigate how the shooter obtained his gun — and then our leaders must address lethal failures in our gun laws. No community should have to face this kind of terror, yet every day in America, an average of 321 people are shot and 111 are killed with guns. We do not have to live this way. To end America’s gun violence epidemic, we must take sensible steps to ensure that people who intend to inflict harm are not able to obtain deadly weapons. Brady urges law enforcement and the media to focus on how the shooter obtained his firearm and if any local or federal laws were broken in the process.”

Robert Schentrup, Survivor and Team ENOUGH Organizing Manager, stated,

“The continued terrorization of the Memphis community by gun violence was exacerbated on Tuesday by a gunman who forced the community to shelter in place, including students at local schools and universities. This comes as students across the country are returning to classrooms, with families everywhere facing the uniquely American fear that this school year will be their child’s last — all because of our country’s lack of sensible gun policies. It is unconscionable that gun violence is the leading cause of death for children in the United States. We can’t keep living this way."

Gun Violence in Tennessee and Memphis

On average, 1,273 people in Tennessee die by gun violence each year.
On average, 718 people in Tennessee take their own life with a firearm each year.
White people in Tennessee are 2.5 times more likely to take their own life with a firearm than Black people.
On average, 506 people in Tennessee are victims of firearm homicide each year.
Since 2014, there have been at least 121 mass shootings in Tennessee, including 55 mass shootings in Memphis alone.

Gun Violence in Tennessee Communities of Color

Black people in Tennessee are almost 10 times more likely to be a victim of firearm homicide than white people.
Black males in Tennessee are more than 12 times more likely to be a victim of firearm homicide than their white counterparts.
Black females in Tennessee are nearly 4 times more likely to be a victim of firearm homicide than their white counterparts.

Gun Laws in Tennessee

Tennessee does not have universal background checks or an extreme risk protection order law.
As of July 1, 2021, Tennessee allows anyone over the age of 21 to carry a concealed firearm without a license.

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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.