United Ways of New Jersey and United Way of Delaware

Statement on Uvalde and Gun Violence as a Public Health Issue
We join those across our two states, and the country, in mourning the 19 innocent children and two teachers who were murdered yesterday in Uvalde Texas. We, the United Ways of New Jersey and United Way of Delaware are calling for action on gun violence as a public health issue.

Since January 1, 2022, there have been 17,202 deaths by gun violence across the United States. According to the Gun Violence Archive, of those, 649 were under the age of 18; 104 were children under the age of 11.

In New Jersey, so far in 2022, there have been three recorded mass shootings. Gun violence in New Jersey has taken 86 lives this year.

I
n an average year in Delaware, 111 residents die in gun violence.

The senseless, violent and preventable killing of children, adults, LGBTQ+, People of Color, Jewish residents and Asian Americans must be a call to action that gun violence is now a national public health issue.

Respectfully,

Michelle A. Taylor Ed.D.
President & CEO, United Way of Delaware

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