GUNS DOWN! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

WE ARE HERE TO RELEASE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT IN LIEU OF THE RECENT GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR GREAT CITY OF CHARLOTTE

Nationally, more than 2,400 people have died in 457 mass killings

At least 55 people have died in 12 mass killings in North Carolina since 2006, according to data compiled by The Associated Press.

We know that the violence comes from concentrated poverty, income inequality, underperforming schools, under-resourced public services, underfunded public housing, lack of opportunities, easy access to guns by people and the list goes on and on.

We need to treat this as a Public Health crisis. We need interventions that work and not pacifiers to our communities just shut us up! We need to protect and promote the health of all people in our communities.

Across the nation, community violence intervention and prevention programs have been working with those who are most at risk of becoming victims of gun violence or perpetuating it. 

We must also urge our leaders to adopt these community-led solutions to curbing gun violence in and around our communities.

We need policies that work, however in the meantime, as a collective group of citizens that are mobilizing and seeking community partners, we stand in solidarity seeking real solutions to the guns and the children who carry them.

We hope that by raising awareness of the deadliness of these crimes and violent behaviors, that legislators and other policy makers with the power to strengthen protections for victims will be educated about the lethality of gun violence and be moved to enact quickly so that others will be saved. 

We have the collective power to create safer communities and shift away from the violence that we experience today to ensure a better tomorrow. 

WILL YOU STAND WITH US?

5,000 SIGNATURES FOR THE AMOUNT OF LIVES LOST TO GUN VIOLENCE

We thank the advocates, allies, media, and surviving family members who are helping us in this effort.