West Virginia Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action Respond to Mass Shooting in Elkview

The West Virginia chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety, released the following statement after a mass shooting in Elkview in which four people — including a 12-year-old and 3-year-old — were shot and killed in a home. Initial reports indicate all victims were related and a 16-year-old has been charged with the killings. 

“Our hearts are with the loved ones of those stolen by senseless gun violence in Elkville,” said Robert Avsec, a volunteer with West Virginia Moms Demand Action. “In a state with some of the weakest gun laws in the country, no one is immune to gun violence. We must work to strengthen our gun laws and protect our communities from tragedies like this.”

Research by Everytown for Gun Safety shows that this is at least the 238th mass shooting since January 2009. Everytown defines mass shootings as those in which four or more people are shot and killed, excluding the shooter. An analysis of mass shootings from 2009 to 2018 shows there were a total of 194 mass shootings, which left 1,121 people dead and an additional 836 people wounded.

According to recent research by Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, there are 41.9 nonfatal firearm injuries per 100,000 people in West Virginia—among the highest rates in the country. In 2017, 760 people were shot and wounded by guns in West Virginia. More information about gun violence in West Virginia is available here.