Growing up in New York City should mean exploring one of the world's most vibrant, diverse, and thriving urban environments. Instead, for many of us, it has come to mean living in fear as our peers fall victim to gun-related violence. I am heartbroken and scared because my peers around me are dying due to gun violence. This needs to change immediately.

The City of New York, embedded with ambitious policies and initiatives that create opportunities for its youth, should ensure that the tragedy of guns falling into children's hands does not continue. Every day, we hear horrifying stories of youth-related shootings that shock community members and destroy families. The time has come for New York City to take rigorous action and stand as a leader in eradicating this grave issue.

According to a report from Everytown for Gun Safety, alarming numbers demonstrate that children and teens in the United States, coupled with their accessibility to firearms, contribute to tragic incidents more than in any other developed country. With over 300 million firearms in circulation throughout the U.S., existing laws are not enough to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands. Specifically, children should not have easy access to guns, period.

What solutions can we implement to diminish this threat and pave the way for safer schools and communities in NYC? First and foremost, the city must reinforce and enact stricter laws that specifically target the illegal possession of firearms by minors. Additionally, there should be educational programs aimed at informing both parents and children about the severe consequences of gun violence. Equally important, we need to enhance community support systems and engagement programs that provide young people with alternatives and opportunities to thrive without turning to violence.

Our community's safety and the lives of our children need immediate and effective intervention. Policy makers, law enforcement, and community leaders in New York City ought to collaborate and prioritize the safety and development of children unclouded by the threat of guns and violence. We ought to lean into preventive measures and rise against this injustice today.

I ask you to join this call for change. Sign the petition to urge NYC officials to remove guns from the hands of children and keep our community safe.