Health & Fitness
Candlelight Vigil Illuminates Need for Gun Violence Prevention
Volunteers from the Northwest Suburbs gathered in downtown Arlington Heights Saturday night to honor the memories of the 30,000 people killed each year as a result of gun violence.
Organizing for Action (OFA) volunteers from Lake and McHenry Counties and the Northwest Suburbs gathered in Harmony Park in downtown Arlington Heights Saturday night to honor the memories of the 26 victims of Sandy Hook, and the 30,000 people killed each year as a result of gun violence.
Jennifer Bishop-Jenkins, Director at Illinois Victims, spoke to the crowd of 100 about the murder of her sister and brother-in-law, and their unborn child, in a Chicago suburb. Their killer was 16. She encouraged listeners to write letters and make phone calls to their representatives and demand that they support expanded background checks for gun sales. This includes the sale of guns at gun shows and online, which do not require background checks at this time.
"These next few weeks will be critical as Congress is set to vote on universal background checks” said Barrington resident Patrick Watson one of the organizers of the event. “We must act to let our legislators know how we feel and remind them to make the right choice and vote in favor of these gun safety measures." Gaby McDonald, another organizer, urged people to "use your voice to call or write your legislators to remind them where you stand. Also, write letters to the editor -- they get read by thousands of people."
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“Background checks are the only systematic way to stop felons, domestic abusers and the dangerously mentally ill from buying firearms” said Matt Flamm of Palatine, another organizer. “90 percent of all Americans, and 82 percent of gun owners, strongly support background checks for all gun sales.”
The event ended with a passionate reading of the names and ages of the Sandy Hook victims. After each name was read, the crowd loudly proclaimed, “She (or he) deserves a vote.” Also asked to be remembered are the 289 people that are shot each day in this country, the 87 people that die each day as a result of gun violence, and again, the 30,000 victims that are killed each year from gun violence.
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During the reading passers-by, across the street from the gathering, some with small children, stopped and turned to listen. Others expressed their support as candles flickered and participants raised signs, some with the refrain “We Have Not Forgotten.”
Northwest Suburbs Organizing for Action (NWSOFA) is a local grassroots group committed to work for progress and social justice. For more information, go to www.nwsofa.org or call (224)241-2012.
