John—

Maine is in mourning. Last night a man with a gun—what appeared to be an assault-style rifle—walked into a bowling alley, opened fire, left, went to a nearby restaurant, shot even more people, and fled. We’re still learning details about the Lewiston shooting, but we do know that at least 18 innocent people were killed, more injured, and a community traumatized.

How many more shootings will it take to bring some sanity to the way we deal with guns?

Donate to GIFFORDS Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence today to help us stand up for the majority of Americans who want safer gun laws.

I’ve worked for more than 20 years on this issue. I’ve spoken to reporters so many times after horrific mass shootings, and they always ask me: How did this happen? I usually give an answer about the gun lobby’s gradual erosion of gun safety laws and the rise of extremist gun culture. Which is true, but incomplete.

I’ve also spoken to survivors and victims’ families, and they ask me the same question: How did this happen? That’s harder to answer. But more and more, I think it boils down to that we—America—let it happen.

It’s in dark times like these that I return to a quote from my friend, and our organization’s namesake, Gabby Giffords: “It’s not the setback that defines us, but how we respond to it.”

And that’s what we’re focused on here at GIFFORDS Law Center. Responding to senseless tragedies and doing whatever we can to stop the next one. Progress is possible—we’ve made tremendous strides since I started working here 20 years ago that have undoubtedly saved lives. Many states are safer, and countless guns have been kept away from potential shooters. But, as last night in Lewiston shows—brutally, heartbreakingly—there’s still a long way to go.

Maine has terrible gun laws. It’s received an F on our Gun Law Scorecard. But even states with the strongest laws can fall prey to carnage like this, thanks to the weak laws of their neighboring states, the widespread proliferation of guns, and unrelenting pressure from gun lobby groups like the NRA.

We aren’t stopping until every community, every state, and every family can live their lives without the threat of being murdered with a gun while you bowl, or eat dinner, or go to school, or shop, or work, or worship, or otherwise exist in a public place in America. That’s how we choose to respond to this crisis—and we hope you’ll stand alongside us.

Please donate to GIFFORDS Law Center today. We need your support now more than ever.

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Gratefully,
Laura

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Laura Cutilletta
Vice President
GIFFORDS Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence