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This is a photo of the Empire State Building going dark to honor the people who died in a mass shooting. But it wasn’t taken tonight. I remember seeing it and saving it after another mass shooting several months ago. I cannot tell you which mass shooting it was, because there have been so many of them since. There have been 252 mass shootings in the US this year, to be exact. Although according to my google search, that statistic was posted 17 hours ago, so it might have already increased. After the mass shooting in New Zealand, they passed gun control laws six days later. But today I am hearing so many Americans blame mental illness. Well, there are mental health problems in other countries and none of them have as many mass shootings as we do. There are also tons of women with mental health issues and I don’t see any of them going on mass shooting sprees. I heard people are blaming video games. Well, Japan plays more video games than anyone and they don’t have a mass shooting problem. They don’t have nearly as many guns though 🤷🏻‍♀️ The NYTimes just released a study that said only Yemen has a higher rate of mass shootings than the US. Yemen has the world’s 2nd-highest rate of gun ownership after the U.S, so go figure. The problem seems obvious. How do we fix it? Well, the House passed gun control legislation that requires background checks on all gun sales and supports Red Flag laws which seize guns from those who pose a real threat of violence, which sounds like a good start. Unfortunately, this bill has been sitting in the Senate for over 200 days, blocked by Mitch McConnell who is preventing it from going to a vote. Is it really that easy for our government to work against the safety of its own people? If you’d like to email your Senator to demand this bill go to a vote, I put the link to a form from @everytown in my bio. My heart breaks for everyone in El Paso, every one in Dayton, every student who has to sit through active shooter drills, every person who just wants to go to a concert, a restaurant, a store, a garlic festival without fear of getting gunned down by a radicalized male white supremacist. I am so sad and scared for our country 💔

A post shared by Ilana Wiles (@mommyshorts) on Aug 4, 2019 at 7:42pm PDT

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My first article with a major online publication. My first paid writing gig. I have zero chill about it. I wish, of course, that it was under different circumstances. However, I’m honored to be able to give voice to this important topic. I hope that if I can accomplish one thing as a survivor of gun violence, it would be to to use my experience to help others who are joining our unfortunate club. I hope that my article helps you to better pray for survivors of gun violence. I also hope it reminds you that prayers should not be merely a response we tweet out or offer in a vague way, but can be a path to recognize the deep, ongoing pain of gun violence, trauma, and the evil that perpetuates them. As always, link is in profile.

A post shared by Taylor Schumann (@taylorsschumann) on Aug 5, 2019 at 5:10am PDT

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My message to the president on gun violence.

A post shared by Kamala Harris (@kamalaharris) on Aug 3, 2019 at 9:36pm PDT

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We know what Trump is doing. He stokes racism. He incites violence. We shouldn’t be asking if there’s anything he can do or if he’s responsible for this when we know the answer. I stand by what I said.

A post shared by Beto O'Rourke (@betoorourke) on Aug 5, 2019 at 5:59am PDT

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People hold their mobile phones with flash on during a vigil in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, on Saturday, after a mass shooting left 20 people dead in El Paso, Texas. Two mass shootings in the United States have left 29 people dead within 24 hours, the latest such attacks in a nation torn over how to tackle gun violence. Go to washingtonpost.com to read more. (Photo by Herika Martinez/AFP/Getty Images)

A post shared by The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) on Aug 4, 2019 at 8:36am PDT

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@senatemajldr Mitch McConnell has had over 200 days to pass gun safety laws that can save lives.⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ In less than 24 hours, 29 people were killed in mass acts of gun violence, and on average 100 Americans will be fatally shot every day the Senate fails to act. ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ Click the link in our bio to send an email NOW urging your senators to act.⁠⠀

A post shared by Everytown for Gun Safety (@everytown) on Aug 4, 2019 at 11:11am PDT

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“In the current times of hate filled speech, I was looking for ideas to do a positive design and I saw a picture of New Zealand‘s Prime Minister hugging a Muslim woman after the shooting there. The way their bodies were shaped looked like a heart. I used it as the inspiration.” — @jvycreations . . . Love one anOTHERS prints and tees by Jake Van Yahres are available at CAN. Supporting civil justice @the_dream_corps 🇺🇸 . . . #loveoneanother #enoughisenough #guncontrolnow #elpasoshooting #daytonshooting #christchurchshooting #endgunviolence #logodesignersclub #politicalartwork #designforgood #politicalchange #tshirtshopping @amominsfdemands @momsdemandorlando @momsdemand_tx #gunviolence #nrawomen #gunsense #gunshowloopholetour #creativeactionnetwork

A post shared by Creative Action Network (@creativeactionnetwork) on Aug 5, 2019 at 10:08am PDT

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Learn! Another! Language!

A post shared by Intersectional Feminist (@feministcaitlin) on Jul 18, 2019 at 1:12pm PDT