NEW YORK — Today, Everytown for Gun Safety and its grassroots networks, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, released the following statements applauding a letter sent by nearly 900 entrepreneurs, executives, and small business owners from across the country urging the Senate to take action and expand background checks.
The joint letter, which represents business owners from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, was delivered today to the U.S. Senate. The full text of the letter is available here. It was organized by Business Forward.
“No one has their ear closer to the ground than small business owners, so it’s telling that so many of them are saying don’t look away from the terrible costs of inaction on gun violence,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “But small business owners shouldn’t be the only leaders coming together to address gun violence — it’s time for our Senators to take action to strengthen our nation’s gun laws.”
“Small businesses with deep roots in communities have, unfortunately, experienced first-hand the costs of gun violence, both in terms of lives taken and money wasted,” said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action. “These small businesses are sending a strong message that the Senate must take action and proving that companies can and should take a stand on this issue to put the safety of customers and communities first.”
According to Everytown Research, in addition to the 110 people shot and killed and hundreds wounded each day, gun violence costs American taxpayers, employers, survivors, families, and communities more than $280 billion per year. Employers lose $1.4 million every day in productivity, revenue, and costs due to gun violence.