On a weekend we should all be observing with a sense of reverence, I am horrified and deeply saddened to learn about the shooting at the Memorial Day Festival in Taft, Oklahoma—one of our state’s remaining historically Black towns—this morning. This is yet another tragedy in a long list of senseless acts of gun violence. It is incumbent upon us to take swift action in response to such violence, particularly when it hits so close to home.
We have created a situation where everyday Americans and Oklahomans are unable to go to school, run errands, and take part in community celebrations without fear of gun violence. For young people in the United States, gun violence is now the leading cause of death. A huge majority of us agree—we deserve better. The time has long passed for us to take this seriously, and I once again challenge our leaders in Congress and state legislatures across the country to take an active stance against the threat of gun violence. And if they won’t, we have an opportunity this year to elect leaders who will. All our lives and futures depend on it.
While thoughts and prayers are wholly insufficient, I am thinking about and lifting up our neighbors in Taft in the wake of this tragedy.
Original source can be found here.
