Another preventable tragedy - but will the US do anything?
Yesterday we woke to the most devastating news. Yet more families have said goodbye to their children on an otherwise normal morning without realising it would be the last time they would ever see them.
We extend our condolences to the families of the victims – many of whom were aged 10 years and under.
The immense suffering of these children, their teachers, their loved ones and their communities was preventable, as were the many others that came before it.
Devastatingly the powerful US gun lobby continues to fight tooth and nail against sensible gun laws that would prevent a tragedy like this occurring again. Once again, an innocent community suffers because of it.
We stand ready to support our US gun control colleagues and gun violence victims as they demand an end to the carnage that occurs all too frequently.
Make no mistake, these forces are also at work here in Australia, trying to undermine the laws that keep our community safe.
We call on Australia’s gun lobby groups – including the Shooting Industry Foundation of Australia, the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia and the Shooters Union of Australia to publicly state a commitment to the National Firearms Agreement – the landmark national agreement struck after the Port Arthur tragedy.
We call on Australian governments to regularly publish data about the type and number of firearms in the community, and ensure the National Firearms Agreement keeps up with technological changes.
We call on Australian journalists and media outlets to shine a light on behind the scenes efforts by Australia’s gun lobby to influence elected officials and water down our gun laws.
We call on Australian investors and companies to ensure their portfolios do not finance firearms manufacturers.
Parents should be able to send their children to school without fear of gun violence.
Communities should be able to exist without carrying the burden of unbearable and inexplicable loss.
Let us all reaffirm our commitment to reducing the likelihood this will ever happen again.