Valentines with the names of victims of gun violence were displayed and will be sent to legislators

SEATTLE, WA – Every day, an average of 123 people are killed by guns in the United States. Today, on the fourth anniversary of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida and on what would normally be the Alliance for Gun Responsibility’s annual lobby day in Olympia, the organization held a press conference to call on state lawmakers to address the gun violence epidemic this legislative session. The event featured 123 valentines with the names of victims of gun violence from Washington, which will be sent to legislators as a reminder of the toll gun violence takes on Washington.  

The following survivors and advocates called for comprehensive action to address the crisis. The speaking program can be viewed here. 

• Renée Hopkins, CEO of the Alliance for Gun Responsibility 
• Robert Schentrup, Brother of Carmen Schentrup, victim of the Parkland shooting
• DeShaun Nabors, Community Passageways Community Ambassador 
• DeVitta Briscoe, Seattle gun violence prevention liaison
• Emily Cantrell, Survivor of the Las Vegas shooting

“Tragedies like the senseless shooting in Parkland four years ago put the impact of the gun violence epidemic in stark relief,” said Renée Hopkins, CEO of the Alliance for Gun Responsibility. “But the truth is, gun violence is claiming lives in each of our communities every day without making headlines. And the epidemic has only grown more dire since the start of the pandemic. But this is not inevitable. We don’t have to accept this needless loss of life. Once again, Washington legislators have the opportunity to act this session to prevent gun violence.  We urge them to seize this chance to keep Washingtonians safe. Because we know the cost of inaction. It is hundreds of lives lost and thousands more changed forever.”  

The valentines feature the name and stories of 123 victims of gun violence from Washington or with Washington connections. Here are just a few of their stories: 

• Royal’lee was unintentionally shot and killed by her father who was handling a gun in their Federal Way apartment when it fired. She was only 8 years old. 
• Arnie Fritz was 14 years old when he was killed in his Algebra class in Moses Lake 26 years ago. 
• Tiffany, a mother of three, was shot and killed by her estranged husband in the parking lot of a Clark County school. Just weeks before the shooting, Tiffany and prosecutors argued in court that she was at risk of being killed by her husband. He posted bail just days before the shooting. 
• AJ, a 13 year old middle school student, was shot in the head and left to die in a Federal Way park in November.
• Justin was shot and killed at a Fred Meyer in Richland one week ago today. He was working as an Instacart shopper. 

Seattle and King County have seen record levels of gun violence since the start of the pandemic. According to the 2021 Shots Fired report from the King County Prosecutor’s Office: 

• Seattle saw more gun violence in 2021 than any year in at least a decade — more people killed by guns, more people hurt by guns, more shots fired.
• Every single precinct saw more shots fired than in 2020.
• 79% of homicides in the city this year were committed with firearms.
• The shootings disproportionately impact people of color and particularly young Black men: More than 81% of shooting victims in King County were people of color.

The Alliance for Gun Responsibility’s full legislative agenda can be found here.  

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