Dear Friend,
Today marks five years since the Parkland shooting where we lost 17 students and staff to gun violence. Nothing we say or do will bring back the lives lost, but we can — and we must — honor their lives through action.
The epidemic of gun violence has only gotten worse in America. Gun violence is a leading cause of premature death in the U.S. and kills more than 38,000 people and causes nearly 85,000 injuries each year. Just last night there was a shooting at Michigan State University, where there are now three students dead and five wounded.
The prevalence of gun violence takes a toll on our mental health and well-being too, creating an environment where kids do not feel safe going to school and parents are worried for their child’s safety in and out of the classroom.
Today we mourn and remember what happened at Parkland and the people we’ve lost to gun violence. And tomorrow we keep fighting for the freedom to be healthy, prosperous, and safe.
Onward,
Rep. Anna V. Eskamani