To donate by check, phone, or other method, see our More Ways to Give page.
People scramble for shelter at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival during a mass shooting on October 1, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. According to latest figures released by law enforcement officials on Monday, at least 58 people were killed and more than 500 injured. (Photo: David Becker/Getty Images)
While President Donald Trump offered his repeated prayers for the victims of Sunday night's mass shooting in Las Vegas in a televised statement on Monday morning--and called the murder of at least 58 people "an act of pure evil"--he offered no comment on the scourge of gun violence that has become a common occurrence in the modern era of the United States.
"It's not too soon to talk about solutions to gun violence. It's too late."
--Moms Take ActionAnd though it's a gracious and natural response to issue thoughts of sympathy and prayers in the wake of such tragedies, patience is wearing thin for lawmakers who repeatedly offer prayers following such massacres, but refuse to stand up to the gun industry lobby to pass meaningful gun control legislation.
"We don't need your #thoughtsandprayers," the Brady Campaign to End Gun Violence tweeted directly at the president following his remarks."We have answers and now we need action! #ENOUGH gun violence!"
"Last night in Las Vegas, America suffered the deadliest mass shooting in our nation's history," said Kris Brown and Avery Gardiner, co-presidents of the Brady Campaign and Center, in a statement. "Our hearts go out to the victims and their families, and to all Americans who have had enough of gun violence in this country. Americans need to be safe in public places, whether at country music concerts, dance clubs, schools, churches, or baseball fields.
But, they added, "We are done debating. We need comprehensive gun safety laws in order to protect our citizens from these random acts of violence that threaten our everyday lives. Congress needs to act now to ensure the safety of all Americans."
That sentiment was widely shared on social media:
\u201cQuit praying and start drafting gun control legislation. https://t.co/1SwPIy6XId\u201d— Christian Christensen (@Christian Christensen) 1506951346
\u201cUnless your THOUGHTS are about gun control or your PRAYERS are that we legislate sane gun control, they\u2019re worthless today.\u201d— John Leguizamo (@John Leguizamo) 1506957706
\u201cPrayers from the congressman pushing legislation that would make gun silencers easier to purchase. https://t.co/oMFZ6gva1o\u201d— rebekah entralgo fern\u00e1ndez (@rebekah entralgo fern\u00e1ndez) 1506951998
\u201c@RepDLamborn We don't want your thoughts or prayers. We want you to do something about gun violence! \ud83d\ude21\u201d— Rep. Doug Lamborn (@Rep. Doug Lamborn) 1506949220
As the gun control advocacy groups Moms Demands Action said Monday morning in the wake of the Vegas shooting, "It's not too soon to talk about solutions to gun violence. It's too late."
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), meanwhile, called on her Senate colleagues to do more than pray.
\u201cThoughts & prayers are NOT enough. Not when more moms & dads will bury kids this week, & more sons & daughters will grow up without parents.\u201d— Elizabeth Warren (@Elizabeth Warren) 1506951622
\u201cTragedies like Las Vegas have happened too many times. We need to have the conversation about how to stop gun violence. We need it NOW.\u201d— Elizabeth Warren (@Elizabeth Warren) 1506951660
In his statement released on Monday, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said his "heart goes out" to all the victims, their families, first responders, and the local community. But even as he noted the unprecedented scale of the Las Vegas carnage, Murphy said "already this year there have been more mass shootings than days in the year."
According to data compiled by the Gun Violence Archive, there have been 273 mass shooting incidents--defined as shooting with four or more victims--so far this year.
"This must stop," Murphy said. "It is positively infuriating that my colleagues in Congress are so afraid of the gun industry that they pretend there aren't public policy responses to this epidemic. There are, and the thoughts and prayers of politicians are cruelly hollow if they are paired with continued legislative indifference. It's time for Congress to get off its ass and do something."
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. |
While President Donald Trump offered his repeated prayers for the victims of Sunday night's mass shooting in Las Vegas in a televised statement on Monday morning--and called the murder of at least 58 people "an act of pure evil"--he offered no comment on the scourge of gun violence that has become a common occurrence in the modern era of the United States.
"It's not too soon to talk about solutions to gun violence. It's too late."
--Moms Take ActionAnd though it's a gracious and natural response to issue thoughts of sympathy and prayers in the wake of such tragedies, patience is wearing thin for lawmakers who repeatedly offer prayers following such massacres, but refuse to stand up to the gun industry lobby to pass meaningful gun control legislation.
"We don't need your #thoughtsandprayers," the Brady Campaign to End Gun Violence tweeted directly at the president following his remarks."We have answers and now we need action! #ENOUGH gun violence!"
"Last night in Las Vegas, America suffered the deadliest mass shooting in our nation's history," said Kris Brown and Avery Gardiner, co-presidents of the Brady Campaign and Center, in a statement. "Our hearts go out to the victims and their families, and to all Americans who have had enough of gun violence in this country. Americans need to be safe in public places, whether at country music concerts, dance clubs, schools, churches, or baseball fields.
But, they added, "We are done debating. We need comprehensive gun safety laws in order to protect our citizens from these random acts of violence that threaten our everyday lives. Congress needs to act now to ensure the safety of all Americans."
That sentiment was widely shared on social media:
\u201cQuit praying and start drafting gun control legislation. https://t.co/1SwPIy6XId\u201d— Christian Christensen (@Christian Christensen) 1506951346
\u201cUnless your THOUGHTS are about gun control or your PRAYERS are that we legislate sane gun control, they\u2019re worthless today.\u201d— John Leguizamo (@John Leguizamo) 1506957706
\u201cPrayers from the congressman pushing legislation that would make gun silencers easier to purchase. https://t.co/oMFZ6gva1o\u201d— rebekah entralgo fern\u00e1ndez (@rebekah entralgo fern\u00e1ndez) 1506951998
\u201c@RepDLamborn We don't want your thoughts or prayers. We want you to do something about gun violence! \ud83d\ude21\u201d— Rep. Doug Lamborn (@Rep. Doug Lamborn) 1506949220
As the gun control advocacy groups Moms Demands Action said Monday morning in the wake of the Vegas shooting, "It's not too soon to talk about solutions to gun violence. It's too late."
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), meanwhile, called on her Senate colleagues to do more than pray.
\u201cThoughts & prayers are NOT enough. Not when more moms & dads will bury kids this week, & more sons & daughters will grow up without parents.\u201d— Elizabeth Warren (@Elizabeth Warren) 1506951622
\u201cTragedies like Las Vegas have happened too many times. We need to have the conversation about how to stop gun violence. We need it NOW.\u201d— Elizabeth Warren (@Elizabeth Warren) 1506951660
In his statement released on Monday, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said his "heart goes out" to all the victims, their families, first responders, and the local community. But even as he noted the unprecedented scale of the Las Vegas carnage, Murphy said "already this year there have been more mass shootings than days in the year."
According to data compiled by the Gun Violence Archive, there have been 273 mass shooting incidents--defined as shooting with four or more victims--so far this year.
"This must stop," Murphy said. "It is positively infuriating that my colleagues in Congress are so afraid of the gun industry that they pretend there aren't public policy responses to this epidemic. There are, and the thoughts and prayers of politicians are cruelly hollow if they are paired with continued legislative indifference. It's time for Congress to get off its ass and do something."
While President Donald Trump offered his repeated prayers for the victims of Sunday night's mass shooting in Las Vegas in a televised statement on Monday morning--and called the murder of at least 58 people "an act of pure evil"--he offered no comment on the scourge of gun violence that has become a common occurrence in the modern era of the United States.
"It's not too soon to talk about solutions to gun violence. It's too late."
--Moms Take ActionAnd though it's a gracious and natural response to issue thoughts of sympathy and prayers in the wake of such tragedies, patience is wearing thin for lawmakers who repeatedly offer prayers following such massacres, but refuse to stand up to the gun industry lobby to pass meaningful gun control legislation.
"We don't need your #thoughtsandprayers," the Brady Campaign to End Gun Violence tweeted directly at the president following his remarks."We have answers and now we need action! #ENOUGH gun violence!"
"Last night in Las Vegas, America suffered the deadliest mass shooting in our nation's history," said Kris Brown and Avery Gardiner, co-presidents of the Brady Campaign and Center, in a statement. "Our hearts go out to the victims and their families, and to all Americans who have had enough of gun violence in this country. Americans need to be safe in public places, whether at country music concerts, dance clubs, schools, churches, or baseball fields.
But, they added, "We are done debating. We need comprehensive gun safety laws in order to protect our citizens from these random acts of violence that threaten our everyday lives. Congress needs to act now to ensure the safety of all Americans."
That sentiment was widely shared on social media:
\u201cQuit praying and start drafting gun control legislation. https://t.co/1SwPIy6XId\u201d— Christian Christensen (@Christian Christensen) 1506951346
\u201cUnless your THOUGHTS are about gun control or your PRAYERS are that we legislate sane gun control, they\u2019re worthless today.\u201d— John Leguizamo (@John Leguizamo) 1506957706
\u201cPrayers from the congressman pushing legislation that would make gun silencers easier to purchase. https://t.co/oMFZ6gva1o\u201d— rebekah entralgo fern\u00e1ndez (@rebekah entralgo fern\u00e1ndez) 1506951998
\u201c@RepDLamborn We don't want your thoughts or prayers. We want you to do something about gun violence! \ud83d\ude21\u201d— Rep. Doug Lamborn (@Rep. Doug Lamborn) 1506949220
As the gun control advocacy groups Moms Demands Action said Monday morning in the wake of the Vegas shooting, "It's not too soon to talk about solutions to gun violence. It's too late."
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), meanwhile, called on her Senate colleagues to do more than pray.
\u201cThoughts & prayers are NOT enough. Not when more moms & dads will bury kids this week, & more sons & daughters will grow up without parents.\u201d— Elizabeth Warren (@Elizabeth Warren) 1506951622
\u201cTragedies like Las Vegas have happened too many times. We need to have the conversation about how to stop gun violence. We need it NOW.\u201d— Elizabeth Warren (@Elizabeth Warren) 1506951660
In his statement released on Monday, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said his "heart goes out" to all the victims, their families, first responders, and the local community. But even as he noted the unprecedented scale of the Las Vegas carnage, Murphy said "already this year there have been more mass shootings than days in the year."
According to data compiled by the Gun Violence Archive, there have been 273 mass shooting incidents--defined as shooting with four or more victims--so far this year.
"This must stop," Murphy said. "It is positively infuriating that my colleagues in Congress are so afraid of the gun industry that they pretend there aren't public policy responses to this epidemic. There are, and the thoughts and prayers of politicians are cruelly hollow if they are paired with continued legislative indifference. It's time for Congress to get off its ass and do something."