Press Release

Offered here as a Public Service Announcement:

For Immediate Release Friday, July 20, 2012

Contacts

: Violence Policy Center, Holly Connor, 202-822-8200 x110, press@vpc.org

States United to Prevent Gun Violence

(state and local groups), Andy Pelosi, 914-629-6726,

andy@supgv.org

Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence

, Robyn Thomas, 415-433-2062 x310,

rthomas@smartgunlaws.org

Over 30 National, State, and Local Gun Violence Prevention Groups Issue

Statement on Colorado Mass Shooting

Washington, DC—Following today's mass shooting at a Colorado movie theater leaving at least 12 dead and dozens

wounded, national, state, and local gun violence prevention organizations (see list at bottom) issued the following joint

statement:

“Our deepest sympathies go to all those affected by this terrible tragedy.

“Today's mass shooting is the price paid in death, pain, and suffering by families and communities for an out-of-control,

militarized gun industry that prides itself on selling increasingly lethal products to virtually anyone with little concern for

the inevitable tragedies that result. In America today—where virtually anyone with a credit card and a grudge can outfit

their own personal army—mass shootings are as predictable as they are tragic. Just as predictably, those who celebrate

this lethal shift—the NRA and its gun industry partners—remain mute when families and communities suffer the

consequences. And when attention fades, they'll once again resume their lethal trade, unless we stand together as

Americans to stop them.

“Gun violence is preventable. It is long past time for policymakers at all levels to act. Americans have a right to feel safe

in their communities—in schools, restaurants, movie theaters, and all public places. Using the cynical desires of the gun

lobby and firearms industry as an excuse for inaction is shameful.”

National Organizations

Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and its national network of chapters

Coalition to Stop Gun Violence

Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence

States United to Prevent Gun Violence

Violence Policy Center

State and Local Organizations

Arizonans for Gun Safety

Women Against Gun Violence (California)

Ceasefire Maryland

Ceasefire New Jersey (a project of the Coalition for Peace Action)

Ceasefire Oregon

CeaseFirePA

Colorado Ceasefire

Connecticut Against Gun Violence Education Fund

Georgians for Gun Safety

GunFreeKids.org

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Gun Violence Prevention Center of Utah

Hawaii Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence

Hoosiers Concerned About Gun Violence

Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence

Maine Citizens Against Handgun Violence

Stop Handgun Violence (Massachusetts)

Northland Brady Chapter (Minnesota)

Million Mom March, Richmond, VA chapter

New Yorkers Against Gun Violence

North Carolinians Against Gun Violence

Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence

Lance Orchid, National Organizing Director, Gun Violence Prevention

ProgressNow Colorado

Protect Minnesota

Maria Roach, New Organizing Institute, Gun Violence Prevention Senior Fellow

Virginia Center for Public Safety

Washington CeaseFire

Wisconsin Anti-Violence Educational Fund

—END—