Illinois Moms Demand Action, Everytown Respond to Shooting on Chicago Elementary School Playground

Incident is 20th School Shooting of 2017, 228th Since January 2013

CHICAGO – The Illinois chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, released the following statement in response to a shooting at a Chicago elementary school on Friday that injured two children. Authorities are still investigating the shooting, but early reports indicate that two girls were shot in a drive-by shooting during an afternoon picnic on the playground outside Warren Elementary School.

Everytown research shows that this is at least the 20th school shooting nationwide so far this year, and the 228th school shooting nationwide since January 1, 2013.

As documented in a report last June by Everytown and the National Urban League, weak gun laws in nearby states are one of the factors contributing to Chicago’s gun violence. Across the country, more than 90 people are killed each day with guns and hundreds more are injured, on average.

STATEMENT FROM TANJA MURRAY, VOLUNTEER WITH THE ILLINOIS CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:

“The nightmare that unfolded this afternoon is yet another terrifying reminder of the toll that gun violence takes in Chicago and across the country. Children should be able to play at the playground without having to run from gunfire. Our thoughts are with the students injured today and with each of their classmates.”