Wear orange on Gun Violence Awareness Day June 7

Cedar Rapids just lost two young men to gun violence and two more are in the hospital. Every day, 100 Americans are killed with guns and hundreds more are shot and injured. Gun violence shapes the lives of millions of Americans who witness it, know someone who was shot, or live in fear of the next shooting.

National Gun Violence Awareness Day is June 7. Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is asking everyone to wear orange that day to bring awareness to gun violence. We are having an event to bring awareness and teach gun safety at the Cedar Rapids Public Library on June 8 at 3:30 p.m. The public is welcome.

What do we need in the way of gun laws? Close the deadly loopholes in our background check system. Reasonable limits on where, when and how loaded guns are carried and used in public. Promote gun safety to protect our children. Red-flag laws allow officers to temporarily take away guns when someone presents a danger to themselves or others.

What have we gotten instead from our Iowa Legislature? Attempts to allow guns on school property and to eliminate requirements to buy or carry guns. Both houses passed SJR18, which proposes an amendment to the Iowa Constitution and, if passed again next year, would make it nearly impossible to pass common gun sense legislation.

In the meantime, we mourn the loss of life from guns.

Christine Lehman-Engledow

Swisher