Letter to the Editor

U.S. gun death rate is 11 times greater than that of its peer countries

Friday, February 12, 2021

Dear Editor,

Governor Parson has asked Missourians to stay home to slow the spread of COVID-19. At the same time, police departments are reporting an increase in domestic violence calls. Those isolated in indoor spaces with abusive partners due to the pandemic have an increased risk of domestic and intimate partner violence. Fifty-eight percent of adults in America, including 68% of Black and Latino Americans, are survivors of gun violence, whether from domestic partners or otherwise.

By early February, gun deaths in the United States surpass the number of gun deaths experienced by our peer countries in an entire calendar year. Tragically and unacceptably, our gun death rate is 11 times greater than that of our peer countries.

Feb. 1-7, 2021, has been designated National Gun Violence Survivor Week. During this week, we amplify the stories and voices of gun violence survivors who live with the impact of gun violence everyday. I am one of those people. As a survivor of domestic-related gun violence, I know what’s at stake. For nine years, I survived physical and emotional abuse from my ex-husband. He continued to threaten me with a gun even after we separated. I’m thankful to be here to tell my story. I help other survivors through my work as an Everytown Survivor Fellow and Moms Demand Action Volunteer.

If you or someone you know is in need of help to get to safety from an abusive situation, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline 24/7 at 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224 for TTY. To learn more about the survivors of gun violence and to hear their stories, go to momentsthatsurvive.org.

Leslie Washington

Cape Girardeau

Everytown Survivor Fellow