Ohio Moms Demand Action Applauds Four Ohio Mayors For Joining Mayors Against Illegal Guns, Honoring National Gun Violence Survivors Week

Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval, Dayton Mayor Jeff Mimms, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, and Elyria Mayor Frank Whitfield Have Joined Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a National Coalition of Mayors Committed to Ending Gun Violence

Mayors Join Coalition to Honor National Gun Violence Survivors Week

The Ohio chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety, released the following statement after four mayors across Ohio — Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval, Dayton Mayor Jeff Mimms, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, and Elyria Mayor Frank Whitfield — joined Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a national nonpartisan coalition of more than 1,000 current and former mayors committed to ending gun violence in communities across the U.S. in honor of National Gun Violence Survivors Week. 

More people die from gun violence by early February in the United States than during an entire calendar year in other high-income countries. This February 1st – 7th marks the fourth annual National Gun Violence Survivors Week, which seeks to share and amplify the stories of gun violence survivors who live every day with the agonizing and unending impact of gun violence. Due to the hard work of Moms Demand Action volunteers in Cincinnati, Mayor Aftab Pureval also issued a proclamation recognizing National Gun Violence Survivors Week and the Cincinnati City Council introduced a resolution to recognize the significance of the week. 

“We are proud to have local leaders across our state who recognize the severity of the gun violence crisis, and are committed to taking clear steps to protect Ohioans,” said Shannon Daniel-Waitas, a gun violence survivor and volunteer with the Ohio chapter of Moms Demand Action. “This National Gun Violence Survivors week, and throughout the year, we must recognize the toll of gun violence and fight for common sense solutions that will keep our communities safe.”

In an average year, 1,602 people die and 3,552 people are wounded by guns in Ohio. The rate of gun deaths has increased 44 percent from 2011 to 2020 in Ohio, compared to a 33 percent  increase nationwide. Gun violence costs Ohio $10.9 billion each year, of which $486.5 million is paid by taxpayers.

Learn more about gun violence in Ohio here.