STATEMENT: AAPI Victory Alliance Renews Call for Gun Violence Prevention Legislation
WASHINGTON — This month marks the anniversary of several mass shootings in America. This Saturday is the second anniversary of the Indianapolis FedEx shooting, where half the victims were members of the Sikh community. This Sunday we commemorate the 32 victims of the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting, and on Thursday, we honor the 13 students and staff who lost their lives in the Columbine High School shooting of 1999. These anniversaries are a tragic reminder of the epidemic of gun violence in America. Now, we must sadly add yesterday's tragedy in Louisville to the anniversaries of mass shootings committed in April alone.
AAPI Victory Alliance Executive Director Varun Nikore issued the following statement:
“It has been over two decades since the Columbine High School massacre, and we continue to witness senseless loss of life to gun violence. Yesterday’s attack in Louisville marks the nation's 146th mass shooting and 15th mass killing this year. When is enough enough? This week, we remember the victims of the ongoing epidemic of gun violence that has only been exacerbated by a lack of legislative action. The massacres in Indianapolis, Blacksburg, Columbine, and now Louisville, remind us of our responsibility to address the root causes of gun violence and our duty to protect future generations.
“While our legislators wait to pass bold, national legislation to reduce gun deaths, Republicans in Congress continue their attacks on what little regulation we have. As a result, there have been 146 mass shootings and nearly 12,000 people killed by gun violence in 2023 so far. AAPI Victory Alliance is committed to building a world where everyone feels safe in their communities whether it’s at home, school, work or place of worship. We call on Congress to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines—because no one should have access to weapons designed for war.
“We must act now to protect our children and our communities, so we don’t have to add anymore anniversaries to the calendar. AAPI Victory Alliance is proud to partner with March For Our Lives and other gun violence prevention advocates to address this epidemic at a national level. Inaction is not an option. We have the power to prevent the next mass shooting, if our elected leaders muster the courage to act now.”
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