Sutherland Springs and Thousand Oaks

 

This week marks the anniversaries of two devastating mass shootings that together killed 39 people and wounded 38 others. Four years ago, on November 5, 2017, a gunman opened fire at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas killing 26 people, including an unborn child, and wounding 22 others. Almost exactly a year later, on November 7, 2018, another gunman opened fire at the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, California, leaving 13 people dead and 16 more wounded. Today, we remember the victims, survivors, and all those directly touched by these senseless tragedies. We should all be able to go to our house of worship or our local bar free from the threat of gun violence. We refuse to accept the constant threat of gun violence as the price of living in the United States. That’s why, as we remember those impacted by these shootings, we also recommit to honoring them with action. These tragic shootings had something in common. They both involved high-capacity magazines. The Thousand Oaks shooter was armed with 190 rounds. The Sutherland Springs shooter fired 700 rounds in just 11 minutes. High-capacity magazines make shootings deadlier by allowing more shots to be fired more quickly. They have been involved in all of the deadliest mass shootings in recent history, including Las Vegas, Orlando, Newtown, El Paso, and Parkland. They do not belong in our communities. Period. At the Alliance, we have been working for the last three years to prohibit these lethal accessories. We won’t quit until our lawmakers take this commonsense, evidence-based step to keep our communities safe. Support our work to honor the victims of Sutherland Springs, Thousand Oaks, and all acts of gun violence with action. Thank you, Renée (she/her) PAID FOR BY ALLIANCE FOR GUN RESPONSIBILITY P.O. Box 4187 Seattle, WA 98194