As of today, more than 60 gun violence prevention organizations and allied groups have aligned on a path to reduce gun deaths in the United States by 50 percent by 2030. While each of these organizations has their own approach, priorities and programs to reduce gun violence, all believe this reduction is possible if everyone – politicians, businesses and civil society – does their part.
Each year, there are approximately 40,000 firearm deaths in the United States, and current statistics indicate that these numbers are likely to rise if we do not come together to take immediate action. The societal and political complexities that confound this issue continue to show there is no – nor will there be – one solution to ending this epidemic. Together, these organizations believe that if policies, programs and practices proven to reduce homicides, suicides and unintentional shootings are scaled up and advanced, there will be a significant reduction in gun-related deaths in the U.S.
The solution to reducing these senseless and preventable deaths is attainable if the combined forces of these organizations are harnessed, focused and directed towards initiatives that have had a demonstrable impact on gun-related deaths. It is only possible if elected officials, business leaders and citizens prioritize addressing this epidemic. Only through the combined forces of these groups – and a concerted effort to hold ourselves and society accountable for ending this violence – can we hope to create a better and safer future for us all.
We the undersigned organizations are fighting to end the epidemic of gun violence in the United States. We work on the national, state and local levels. We work on legislation, policy, programs, research and direct interventions. Our approach, strategies and tactics sometimes differ, but all of us see the devastating effects of this preventable problem and are committed to reversing it.
We believe that the United States can reduce gun deaths by 50 percent by 2030. We know this is possible, but only if everyone does their part and we invite you to join us. We believe that we can save well more than 100,000 lives in the next ten years, but it will take many of us working together — from gun manufacturers to law enforcement, elected officials to CEOs, doctors to social workers, those who own guns and those who do not — toward this common purpose.
This is both a declaration of what's possible and a call to action. Countless lives are at stake. This enormous problem requires bold solutions. We pledge to work together to do our part to cut gun deaths by 50 percent over the next decade. But we can't do it alone.
We hope you will join us in doing your part.