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Everytown and Moms Demand Action Statements on Mass Shooting in Suburban Houston That Killed Four Children and Two Adults

July 10, 2014

86 Americans Killed By Gun Violence Every Day, 8 of Whom Are Children or Teens

57 Percent of Mass Shootings Related to Domestic Violence; Presence of a Gun in a DV Situation Makes it Five Times More Likely Woman Will Be Killed

Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America released the following statements in response to a domestic violence-related mass shooting last night in Spring, Texas – about 25 miles north of Houston – in which six people were killed, four of whom were children.

“Yet another gun violence tragedy has struck our country — our thoughts and prayers go out to this community today,” said John Feinblatt, President of Everytown for Gun Safety. “This event, and another shooting last night at the National Guard Armory in Perry County, Tennessee, in which one person was killed remind us of the gun violence epidemic that kills 86 Americans every day – eight of whom are children or teenagers. That’s why Americans are standing together to call for political leaders to take meaningful action to end the scourge of gun violence. It’s not too soon to talk about the public safety measures that can prevent these tragedies and save lives – it’s too late.”

“Our hearts break once again because of the senseless murder of four children and two adults last night,” said Shannon Watts, Founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “This tragedy also reminds us of the strong connection between mass shootings and domestic violence – and the deadly role of guns in domestic and family violence. More than half of women murdered with guns in the U.S. in 2010 — at least 54 percent — were killed by intimate partners or family members. But in states that require background checks on all gun sales, 38 percent fewer women are shot to death by their intimate partners – this is precisely why we won’t give up on our fight to make it harder for domestic abusers to get and keep guns. Women’s and children’s lives are on the line.”

Key Finding from Everytown’s Analysis of Recent Mass Shootings:

  • In at least 57 percent of the mass shootings between January 2009 and September 2013, the shooter killed a current or former intimate partner or family member.

Key Everytown Research on Guns and Domestic Violence:

  • Women in the U.S. are 11 times more likely to be murdered with guns than they are in any other developed nation.
  • More than half of women murdered with guns in the U.S. in 2010 — at least 54 percent — were killed by intimate partners or family members.
  • The presence of a gun in a domestic violence situation makes it five times more likely that the woman will be killed.
  • In states that require background checks for all handgun sales, 38 percent fewer women are shot to death by their intimate partners.

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