Pennsylvania Capital-Star: ‘How One Young Activist is Staying in the Fight’ Against Gun Violence
4.21.2020
Last week, Students Demand Action, a part of Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund, announced the launch of its Pennsylvania Virtual Field Office, part of a $1.5 million effort by Everytown and Students Demand Action to register 100,000 young voters across the country ahead of the 2020 election.
As the coronavirus pandemic continues, gun violence of all types has not stopped, and neither have efforts to end gun violence. Students Demand Action volunteers are committed to registering young voters, starting with virtual voter registration as we continue to practice social distancing.
Kayleigh Wolfe, a junior at Spring-Ford High School and a volunteer with Students Demand Action, spoke with the Pennsylvania Capital-Star about the launch of the Virtual Field Office in Pennsylvania and how students are continuing their fight against gun violence amid the coronavirus pandemic:
Q: With the headlines swallowed up by the pandemic, and all the legislative action focused around coronavirus relief, it’s been hard for other issues, such as gun violence, to rise up. How are you trying to elevate the debate around gun violence reduction?
Wolfe: “Gun violence is a very serious crisis in this country, and in Pennsylvania. In Pennsylvania, more than 1,500 people are shot and killed every year. It’s definitely a big issue, and it’s important to prevent it so we can save lives. One way to do that is to elect leaders who will help keep our communities safe from gun violence.
“It’s important to emphasize to people that coronavirus hasn’t stopped gun violence. Just because people are social distancing… there are shootings every day in cities like Philadelphia. It’s not stopping these shootings and gun violence.”
Read more in the Pennsylvania Capital-Star here.
Gun violence prevention consistently ranks as a top issue for young voters, and in Pennsylvania, a recent survey from Everytown found that voters in Pennsylvania support stronger gun safety laws by a 9:1 margin and 78% of voters consider a candidate’s position on guns “very important” to their vote in 2020.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Pennsylvania Virtual Field Office or student virtual advocacy, please do not hesitate to reach out with questions or to request an interview with a Pennsylvania Students Demand Action volunteer.