Gun Violence Deaths Reach Record Highs in 2017

Congresswoman Robin Kelly, a Democrat, blames President Trump and lack of tougher gun control on the rising violence in Chicago and the suburbs, not on street gangs, criminals or failed policies of local officials like Mayor Rahm Emanuel

Congresswoman Robin Kelly, vice chair of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, released this statement concerning the CDC report that gun violence deaths in 2017 climbed to the highest recorded rate in history:

“Thirty-nine thousand seven hundred and seventy-three American lives were taken by gun violence in 2017.

Thirty-nine thousand seven hundred and seventy-three mothers, brothers, sisters and fathers lost their lives while this Republican-controlled Congress has done nothing to stop the carnage and madness.

Shame on President Trump for his inaction. Shame on Leader McConnell and Speaker Ryan for their willful ignorance. Shame on Congressional Republicans who refused to hold their leadership accountable and lacked the courage to act and save lives.

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Congresswoman Robin Kelly official photo

These deaths aren’t just statistics. They are real people who had real lives until gun violence cut them short. People like Nikia Betts, the Chicago mother of a 4-year old who was also shot; William “Willie” Cooper, a community activists working to stop the violence in Chicago; and Philando Castile, the beloved ‘lunch man’ who invested in the students of J.J. Hill Montessori Magnet School.

The time to act is now, before another record-breaking year of gun violence deaths devastates American communities.

When Democrats assume control of the House of Representatives in January, we can and must act on gun violence. We can start by passing universal background check legislation, legislation that’s proven to reduce gun violence death and has the support of ninety percent of Americans and seventy percent of NRA members.

We must also open up public health funding and research into gun violence, as we’ve successfully done for automobile accidents, tobacco, alcohol and drug abuse.

Make no mistake, the American people are sick and tired of watching their family, friends, loved ones and neighbors die from preventable gun violence.”

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Ray Hanania

Ray Hanania is an award-winning columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.

Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

A critic of mainstream news media bias, Hanania advocates for peace & justice for Israel & Palestine, & the empowerment of Arabs in America.

"I write about three topics, the Middle East, politics and life in general. I often take my life experiences and offer them in an entertaining way to readers, and I take on the toughest topics like the Israel-Palestine conflict and don't pull any punches about what I feel is fair. But, my priority is always about writing the good story."

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His columns are archived here. Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

Email Ray Hanania at rghanania@gmail.com.