Everytown, Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action Respond to Shooting Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl Parade in Kansas City

KANSAS CITY – Everytown for Gun Safety and its grassroots networks, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, released the following statements in response to a shooting in Kansas City at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl Championship parade. As of 4pm, authorities reported that ten people were hurt, at least one person fatally. While details are still unfolding, the Kansas City Police Department has reportedly taken two armed people into custody.

“Once again, an event that should’ve been pure joy has instead turned into tragedy for an entire community,” said Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action. “Horrors like today’s shooting are what’s at stake when you have politicians weakening gun laws, instead of prioritizing the lives of their constituents. Our hearts are with Kansas City, and we’re more focused than ever on building a safer future for all of us.”

“This shooting is yet another reminder that no parade, no church, no school — really, nowhere at all — is safe from America’s gun violence crisis,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “Everytown has a strong partnership with Kansas City and Mayor Lucas, and we will honor the victims of this terrible shooting by doing everything we can to prevent future tragedies.”

“What should have been a day of celebration, has turned into a day of devastation for Kansas City,” said Tara Bennet, a volunteer with the Kansas City chapter of Moms Demand Action. Bennet was attending the parade. “We are heartbroken by this news. It’s absurd that we cannot celebrate our city’s victory without fearing for our lives at the same time. We won’t be broken by this. We are Kansas City Strong.”

“It doesn’t matter where you are or what you’re doing, Americans can’t escape the horrors of gun violence – and today’s shooting is just the latest tragedy to show for it,” said Grace Springer, a volunteer from Olathe East Students Demand Action chapter. “My generation is so sick of this. It’s everywhere. It’s all the time. How many more times do we have to scream and run for our lives before this madness stops?” 

Violence at parades is sadly all too familiar to communities across the country. Last year at the Denver Nuggets championship parade, two people were shot and wounded after the victory parade in downtown Denver. Additionally, the Highland Park community was shattered when violence devastated their 2022 Fourth of July parade, killing seven people and wounding 48 more.

Kansas City continues to grapple with incredibly high rates of gun violence – 2023 was the deadliest year ever recorded in the city. The city is uniquely positioned, straddling two states with weak gun laws. Missouri and Kansas have some of the weakest gun laws in the country, and Missouri has the seventh highest rate of gun deaths in the U.S. Both states lack all of the foundational gun safety laws, including requiring background checks for all firearm sales, and requiring a permit to carry concealed firearms in public. 

Over the last decade, Missouri lawmakers have put lives in jeopardy by systematically chipping away at any and all gun safety measures and have emboldened extremists with their ‘guns everywhere’ agenda. This session, lawmakers are attempting to take additional measures to strip away the few remaining gun safety protections by prioritizing bills to further weaken gun laws by forcing firearms into places of worship and public transit. Over the past decade, Kansas lawmakers have also attempted to repeal the remaining gun safety measures in the state. 

More information about gun violence in Missouri is available here.

More information about gun violence in Kansas is available here.