PHILADELPHIA — We did not need this shooter to tell us that we had a problem with gun violence in America and that we needed to get rid of AR-15’s assault rifles that are weapons of war. But now we must all stand together and make the changes needed.
Rivers of tears have flooded the streets of The City of Love and the pain will not be washed away so easily. Having lived in The City of Brotherly/Sisterly Love, I too am hurt by yet another senseless act of violence. It is the innocent who are the victims.
While many affected call for changes in gun laws and look to the heavens for some answer, the NRA and its political allies dare to stand tall amongst the lost lives and tell lies about the 2nd Amendment and their right to weapons. These pro-gun individuals instead continue to push laws that make it easier to buy weapons and bullets and push for weapons to be carried in public.
You might wonder that if the NRA and their right-wing allies push for these horrific laws why don’t they allow armed individuals into their meetings and conventions? That’s because they know that some of these gun-toting individuals are walking time bombs.
There have been 184 mass shootings in 2023 so far, which is defined by the Gun Violence Archive as an incident in which four or more victims are shot or killed. These mass shootings have led to 248 deaths and 744 injuries.
More than 13,900 people have been killed by gun violence so far in 2023.
And we now have more than 400 million weapons in the hands of our citizens.
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner organized an amazing number of community leaders and family members for gathering to grieve and to look for solutions. I was driving and could not get all of it to land on my car radio. But we need these discussions to push us to do everything we can to curb this form of violence.
In 1996 I started Homies Unidos in El Salvador, an organization that deals with the youth and their families to work to diminish violence in all its forms. It is now based in Los Angeles and run well by a former MS-13 leader who is a great leader.
We must teach our people what to do when we get angry and hurt. We have not been taught how to defuse our emotions and avoid vengeance. Instead, we honor those who got vengeance and not the peacemakers.
My heart aches for my Philly Family and hope that this City of Love can give them the support and love they will need in the days weeks and months to come. Perhaps this great city of love can build a monument to honor them and all those who preach and teach nonviolence.
Leno Rose-Avila and Tania Romero, a filmmaker from Philadelphia are presently working in a documentary with the victims of the families in Colorado Springs where 5 people were killed and 25 injured in Club Q. Richie Fierro the ex-military man who without a weapon stopped the shooter reminded Leno and Romero that PTSD is real and many will suffer from this shooting as a result of this violence and will need medical support. This documentary aims to teach about the violence and hate that embroils these situations. The film will be called “Atrevida: The Fierro Story”. We will use it as a tool to educate the public. For more information contact leno@magdaleno.org
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