Texas Moms Demand Action, Everytown Respond to Breaking News of Mass Shooting at Church in Sutherland Springs

Initial Reports Indicate as Many as 27 People Could Be Dead and 24 Injured

Shooting Is at Least Ninth Mass Shooting in 2017 and 165th Since 2009

SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, Texas. – The Texas chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today issued the following statement in response to reports of a mass shooting at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs.

While details are still unfolding, reports indicate that as many as 27 people may have been shot and killed and another 24 may have been injured, which would make this the deadliest church shooting in modern American history.

Research by Everytown for Gun Safety shows that this is at least the 165th mass shooting since January 2009, and the ninth mass shooting this year, including the third in Texas. Since January 2009, Texas has seen more mass shootings – 18 – than any other state in the country. Everytown’s analysis of mass shootings from 2009 to 2016 is available here.

STAETMENT FROM SHANNON WATTS, FOUNDER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:

“It is as outrageous as it is tragic that mass shootings have become a routine occurrence in America. Just weeks after the worst mass shooting in modern American history took place at a concert in Las Vegas, the nation is reeling once again from another gun violence tragedy. No American is safe anywhere – church, school, work, our communities – until we finally fix our nation’s lax gun laws. If more guns and fewer gun laws made us safer, we’d be the safest nation on earth; instead we have a gun homicide rate that’s 25 times higher than our peers in other developed nations. It is time for every single American to get off the sidelines and demand our lawmakers reject the NRA, which has far too much influence over our gun laws. In addition, Americans must commit to voting on the issue of gun violence prevention. It doesn’t have to be this way – gun violence is preventable.”

STATEMENT FROM AMANDA JOHNSON, VOLUNTEER WITH THE TEXAS CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA AND MEMBER OF THE EVERYTOWN SURVIVOR NETWORK:

“I am heartbroken for the Sutherland Spring community. My thoughts are with the First Baptist Church congregation and the families and friends of those who were killed.

“It cannot be said enough that this is not normal. We should be able to do things like go to worship, go to school or go to a concert without the threat of gun violence. Sadly, no place in our communities is free from that threat. In fact, Texas has seen more mass shootings since 2009 than any other state. While details are still unfolding, we already know one thing: We should do more to prevent senseless gun violence.”