Former President Donald Trump was injured in a shooting at a rally for his campaign in Pennsylvania tonight. We are deeply disturbed by this and hoping for his speedy recovery, as well as the recovery of others injured or killed at the event. Details are still unfolding.
A gun fired never hurts only those in its direct path, it creates a cascading effect of fear on all of those around. We all have been touched by this.
Guns make us afraid to go to events. Guns make us afraid to send our kids to school.
Guns make us afraid to participate in our own democracy.
The gun industry has encouraged this fear to sell more guns, celebrating the surge of gun purchases during election years. It has profited from, enflamed, and accepted events like today to sell more guns.
WE MUST RESIST.
We are afraid of the potential of this event to beget more guns and more force. Through community and through coalition, we can stop the spread of fear, the spread of hate, and the spread of violence.
Guns are no longer a threat to our democracy, they are a promise of its demise.
And only we can stop it — by putting the guns down.
We’re encouraged and calmed by the presence of this community. Let’s stick together, stay engaged, and keep fighting — peacefully — for the America we know we can be.
In Solidarity,
The Guns Down America Team
