The inequality of gun violence

Dear Jason, This month, we focus on the enormous and devastating toll that gun violence takes on families, with a particular lens on the deaths of children.   And today, Juneteenth, is a day that celebrates the emancipation of enslaved people across the U.S., and also asks us to examine our nation’s progress in achieving true freedom, equality, and justice for black and brown Americans.   Sadly, the toll of gun violence across our nation reveals considerable inequality across races. African American and Black children are 5.6 times more likely to be killed by firearms than white children. Native American children are more than twice as likely to be killed by firearms than white children. Let’s be clear: the death of ANY child by firearm is tragic, preventable, and unacceptable. Each individual tragedy spurs us to action and highlights vulnerabilities in our existing systems.   We mourn the death of Lewiston 4-year-old Jasper Smith, who died last year when he found and fired his stepfather’s unsecured firearm in his home. And we call on our leaders to create laws and practices to ensure that children across Maine are protected from gun violence in their own homes with laws that require secure storage. 1   We also mourn the death of Mississippi 1-year-old Kohen Kartier Wiley, who was killed this week by a police officer firing on the car he was in with his mother. And we call on all law enforcement agencies and officers to take a good, hard look at their practices and training, make changes where necessary, and ensure that the sacredness of every human life is held paramount in their work to protect community safety. 2   It is the responsibility of all of us to ensure that children, the most vulnerable among us, are safe from gun violence. Thank you for being a part of our work to save lives.   In solidarity,   Nacole Donate FIND US ONLINE Maine Gun Safety Coalition PO Box 92, Portland, ME 04112 mainegunsafety.org  If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe.