Yesterday brought yet another tragic reminder of the epidemic of gun violence in America. Whether a high school student known only within their community or a nationally recognized political organizer, every single person deserves to feel safe and secure. Schools and universities should be sanctuaries of learning – the safest places in every community.
The students and families of Evergreen High School in Colorado now join far too many others who carry the trauma of school shootings. Students cannot learn when they are forced to fear for their lives. Teachers and school staff cannot do their work under constant threat. They deserve to know that their safety and well-being are our top priority.
The homicide of Charlie Kirk is a tragedy – for his family and for our society and democracy as a whole. Political violence has no place in America. It is unacceptable. The trauma of such a heinous act ripples outward – across the witnesses at Utah Valley University and across the nation. This is not normal, and we must refuse to accept it as such. We must condemn these acts in the strongest terms and recommit ourselves to ensuring that, even in the midst of our deepest disagreements, we can argue passionately and still live to argue another day.
We need our elected leaders to act with urgency. They must protect and build upon the progress already made on gun violence prevention – from expanding access to mental health services to enacting commonsense limits on weapons of war in our communities.
Keeping everyone safe on a school or college campus should not be a partisan issue. Ensuring students can thrive and reach their fullest potential should be the priority of every leader. Ending this violence – once and for all – must be Congress’s number one goal.
