MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — The Minnesota chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and a Minnesota member of the Everytown Survivor Network, both a part of Everytown for Gun Safety, released the following statements today in response to the shooting of five people by three masked men, described by news reports as white supremacists, at a Black Lives Matter protest outside the Minneapolis Police Department Fourth Precinct.
STATEMENT FROM MARIT BROCK VOLUNTEER CHAPTER LEADER WITH THE MINNESOTA CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:
“Our thoughts are with the victims of the senseless gun violence that has once again rocked our community. While we still don’t know all of the details about Monday’s violence, once again, we saw how unbelievably easy access to guns in our country emboldens dangerous and ill-intentioned individuals to carry out unthinkable crimes. This is the latest in events that are all too common here in Minneapolis and across our country where 88 people are killed and hundreds more are injured by gun violence every day. As a mom, I don’t want my children to have to live in a country where the threat of gun violence is always looming over our heads and that is exactly why Minnesota moms are holding our leaders accountable for making sure guns are not easily accessible by dangerous people. We will continue to fight for better laws that will help to prevent the gun violence that plagues us.”
STATEMENT FROM SAMI RAHAMIM, GUN VIOLENCE SURVIVOR AND MEMBER OF THE EVERYTOWN SURVIVOR NETWORK:
“As a survivor, I know firsthand the trauma of a life affected by gun violence and my heart goes out to the victims of this abhorrent shooting, their families and our community. Thankfully all five shooting victims are expected to recover physically—but the emotional toll here is something they will live with forever. My father was shot and killed while at work just over a mile from the Fourth Precinct—he is the reason why I fight for better policies that will help prevent the numbers of Americans who join our unfortunate club of gun violence survivors from rising. We are still learning more about what exactly happened on Monday night and as a community, there are many answers we still need but please don’t think there are not solutions to preventing senseless gun violence. Americans should not be afraid to gather in protest for fear of being shot. It’s not too soon to call on our political leaders to take common-sense steps to prevent gun violence and that’s just what we will continue to do, here in Minnesota and across the country.”