Gun violence in any form leaves an enduring mark on the lives of those who are personally impacted. The United States is a nation of survivors: 58 percent of American adults including 68 percent of Black and Hispanic Americans, or someone they care for have personally experienced gun violence in their lifetimes and gun violence is the leading cause of death for children and teens in America.
2021 will mark the third annual National Gun Violence Survivors Week. The first week of February represents the approximate time that gun deaths in the United States surpass the number of gun deaths experienced by our peer countries in an entire calendar year. Tragically, our gun death rate is 11 times greater than that of other high income countries. And our nation's gun violence crisis continues to be intensified by another public health crisis gripping our nation: the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year, Students Demand Action and the Everytown Survivor Network are committed to bringing National Gun Violence Survivors Week to high school and college campuses around the country in order to raise awareness amongst students, honor survivors, and amplify the voices of student survivors of gun violence. The following toolkit describes numerous ways for students on campuses to participate in the campaign and share their stories.
Download our toolkit with guidance on how to mark National Gun Violence Survivors Week on your college campus.