Business Leaders Represent Employees in All 50 States, Including Levi Strauss & Co., The Permanente Medical Group, Inc., Bloomberg LP, Lyft, SF Giants, Unilever United States, Bumble, Yelp, Bain Capital, Northwell Health, Eventbrite, and the Philadelphia Eagles.
NEW YORK — Today, a group of more than 220 business leaders, representing employees in all 50 states, sent a joint letter to the U.S. Senate urging lawmakers to take action on gun safety. Everytown for Gun Safety and its grassroots networks, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, released the following statements applauding the letter.
The letter includes some of the nation’s largest brands including: Levi Strauss & Co., The Permanente Medical Group, Inc., Bloomberg LP, Lyft, SF Giants, Unilever United States, Bumble, Yelp, Bain Capital, Northwell Health, Eventbrite, and the Philadelphia Eagles.
“Our nation’s gun violence epidemic is a public health crisis threatening the rituals of our daily lives. Schools, places of worship, and grocery stores should be safe havens from violence, but inaction on federal legislation has made gun violence a uniquely American problem,” said Chip Bergh, Chief Executive Officer and President of Levi Strauss & Co. “By passing common-sense gun safety legislation, our lawmakers can save lives and restore safety in our communities. It’s time to act.”
“As the CEO of New York’s largest health care provider and private employer, I’ve long maintained that health care professionals are uniquely positioned to rise above the political fray by addressing the nation’s gun violence epidemic through a public health lens,” said Michael Dowling, president and CEO of Northwell Health, which in 2020 established a Center for Gun Violence Prevention led by pediatric surgeon Chethan Sathya, MD. “Through our continued collaboration with Everytown and other advocacy groups, we’re committed to breaking the cycle of violence, promoting peace within the communities we serve, and giving young people the help and support they need to further their education and pursue meaningful career opportunities.”
“Corporate executives make it their business to stay in step with the American people, so it’s telling that so many leaders are raising their voices in support of common-sense gun safety legislation,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “Like business leaders, Senators succeed or fail based on their ability to channel public opinion into action, and they would be well advised to listen to corporate America and take meaningful action to prevent gun violence.”
“These business leaders are proving that supporting gun safety isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s also good for business,” said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action. “There’s a groundswell of Americans rising up and demanding the Senate not look away from the gun violence tearing apart our communities and finally take action to save lives. Inaction is not an option.”
As reported today, the letter states:
We, the undersigned CEOs, represent American companies from across the country. Like you, we continue to bear witness to the toll of America’s gun violence epidemic and its impact on our communities. Our country needs you to take bold urgent action to address our gun violence epidemic.
In recent weeks our country has been forced to reckon with the killings at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, the equally horrifying events at the Tops market in Buffalo, and the 14 additional mass shootings that took place in just the ten days between the two. These shootings have destroyed families and communities, shaken our country and highlighted the lack of action from the US Senate.
Mass shootings like these represent just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to our country’s gun violence epidemic. You have surely seen the statistics: On average, more than 110 people are shot and killed in the United States every day, and more than 200 others are shot and wounded. These shootings happen in homes and at cookouts, in schools and houses of worship, in local businesses and big box stores, and on the streets our children travel every day. Among the affected are our employees, our customers, and the communities we work in. And our kids: guns are now the leading cause of death among children and teens. Each death means another empty chair at the dinner table, another empty seat in the church pew or the classroom, another worker missing on the assembly line.
Taken together, the gun violence epidemic represents a public health crisis that continues to devastate communities – especially Black and Brown communities – and harm our national economy. All of this points to a clear need for action: the Senate must take urgent action to pass bold gun safety legislation as soon as possible in order to avoid more death and injury.
On top of the human toll is a profound economic impact. At a time when our economy is struggling to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, gun violence costs American taxpayers, employers and communities a staggering $280 billion per year. Employers lose $1.4 million every day in productivity and revenue, and costs associated with victims of gun violence. Communities that experience gun violence struggle to attract investment, create jobs, and see economic growth.
We urge the Senate to take immediate action. Gun violence can be prevented. Our families, our communities, and our places of business are depending on you. Stand with us and the American public. Put the safety of your constituents and their children first. Transcend partisanship and work together to pass bold legislation to address gun violence in our country.
