An average of 321 people shot every day in our country: Demand Passage of the ‘‘Bipartisan Safer Communities Act"

It's clear that we need to do more than hope and pray for the victims of gun violence. We also desperately need to address gun violence policy in this country. Check out these statistics from the Brady Campaign Against Gun Violence. They document an average of 321 people shot every day in our country— including 42 murders (approx. 15,343 annually) and 65 suicides (approx. 23,891 annually). According to everytownresearch.org, gun violence is a leading cause of death for children. It used to be car accidents.

Just last week here in Austin, Texas, police received an anonymous tip of someone who was planning to commit a mass shooting at a local park. Thankfully, police arrested him but in the meantime, others like him enjoy ready access to guns.

We must all reach out to whoever represents us in Congress and demand that they pass the ‘‘Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.’’ Go this link to find out who represents you and reach out to them. It only takes a minute.

If you and they are in Texas, I would encourage you demand a special legislative session so that lawmakers can legislate. It'll get caught up in the din of the regular legislative session that begins in January, competing with other bills and conceivably getting minimized as an issue in the process.

These statistics are horrific, with untold trauma impacting the lives of so many not only at this very moment, but for generations to come. Life didn't use to be this way and we should not expect this as "normal," particularly for an issue that is abundantly amenable to policy change, including short- and long-term solutions. 

-Angela Valenzuela

STATISTICS ON DAILY GUN VIOLENCE IN AMERICA

DAILY GUN VIOLENCE IMPACTING PEOPLE OF ALL AGES IN THE U.S.

Every day, 321 people are shot in the United States. Among those:

• 111 people are shot and killed
• 210 survive gunshot injuries
• 95 are intentionally shot by someone else and survive
• 42 are murdered
• 65 die from gun suicide
• 10 survive an attempted gun suicide
• 1 is killed unintentionally
• 90 are shot unintentionally and survive
• 1 is killed by legal intervention*
• 4 are shot by legal intervention and survive
• 1 died but the intent was unknown
• 12 are shot and survive but the intent was unknown

DAILY GUN VIOLENCE IMPACTING CHILDREN AND TEENS (1-17)

Every day, 22 children and teens (1-17) are shot in the United States. Among those:

• 5 die from gun violence
• 3 are murdered
• 17 children and teens survive gunshot injuries
• 8 are intentionally shot by someone else and survive
• 2 children and teens either die from gun suicide or survive an attempted gun suicide
• 8 children and teens are unintentionally shot in instances of family fire — a shooting involving an improperly stored or misused gun found in the home resulting in injury or death

ANNUAL GUN VIOLENCE IMPACTING PEOPLE OF ALL AGES IN THE U.S.

Every year, 117,345 people are shot. Among those:

• 40,620 people die from gun violence
• 15,343 are murdered
• 76,725 people survive gunshot injuries
• 34,566 are intentionally shot by someone else and survive
• 23,891 die from gun suicide
• 3,554 survive an attempted gun suicide
• 492 killed unintentionally
• 547 are killed by legal intervention
• 1,376 are shot by legal intervention and survive
• 347 die but the intent was unknown
• 4,471 are shot and survive but the intent is unknown
• 547 women are killed by their husband or male dating partner**