OCA Mourning the Victims of Gun Violence
The following is a message from the OCA National Center:
We are deeply saddened and outraged by the senseless shootings that took place this week in Kansas City and Houston, claiming the lives of innocent people and injuring many others, including children. Our hearts go out to the families and communities affected by these tragedies.
We condemn these acts of violence and hate that have shattered the peace and joy of two cities. We stand in solidarity with the victims and survivors, and we offer our deepest condolences and support to them in this difficult time.
These horrific incidents remind us of the urgent need for action to prevent gun violence in our nation. This week marks the sixth anniversary of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida, where 17 students and staff members were killed and 17 more were wounded. Among the victims was 17-year-old Joaquin Oliver, whose parents, Manuel and Patricia, have turned their grief into a powerful campaign for change.
They have launched theshotline.org, a website where you can select one of six AI-generated calls from the six children lost to gun violence. By entering your ZIP Code, you can directly connect these calls to your Congressional Representatives and Senators. The calls urge them to pass common-sense legislation to require universal background checks for all gun sales, close the loopholes that allow dangerous people to access firearms, and ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
We stand with all the survivors and advocates who are demanding an end to the gun violence epidemic that plagues our country. We call on Congress to listen to their voices and act now to protect our children and communities. We deserve to live.
