1. United States
2. Ariz.
3. Letter

On August 27, 2025, a mass shooting at a Catholic Church in Minneapolis killed at least two children and injured 17 others. This was the 286th mass shooting in the United States that year alone. Mass shootings now occur almost daily in our country, and firearm suicides comprise the majority of gun-related deaths. This crisis demands immediate legislative action. The United States has the highest per capita gun ownership globally. Americans own 42% of all civilian firearms despite representing only 4% of the world's population. Our rates of gun homicides far exceed those of other developed nations. While gun violence prevention experts have identified effective policy solutions, Congress has failed to act, largely due to lobbying pressure from the National Rifle Association. I urge you to support comprehensive gun violence prevention legislation that includes universal background checks for all gun and ammunition purchases, closing loopholes that currently allow background check-free purchases, and requiring gun licenses. These measures are supported by the majority of Americans and gun owners alike. I also ask that you support reinstating the assault weapons ban or passing new legislation to ban high-capacity magazines and military-style assault weapons. Additionally, I request that you fund community-based interventions like the Ceasefire program, which has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing gun violence through targeted outreach and support services. Two children died in Minneapolis. Seventeen others were injured. These are not just statistics but members of our communities whose lives have been forever altered by preventable violence. The evidence is clear, the solutions are known, and public support exists. What remains missing is congressional action. I ask that you prioritize gun violence prevention legislation and work with your colleagues to pass meaningful reforms that will save lives. Our communities cannot wait any longer.