Wednesday, Feb. 1 — Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023
From February 1–7, 2023, we will honor the fifth annual National Gun Violence Survivors Week. During National Gun Violence Survivors Week, we take stock of the terrible human toll of America’s gun violence crisis — and recommit ourselves to supporting survivors with action. The date marks the approximate time that gun deaths in the United States surpass the number of gun deaths experienced by peer countries in an entire calendar year.
Tragically and unacceptably, America’s gun death rate is 13 times greater than that of our peer countries. Every day in the U.S., 110 people are shot and killed, more than 200 people survive gunshot wounds and countless others witness acts of gun violence. The focus of National Gun Violence Survivors Week is on sharing gun violence survivors’ stories in their own words and encouraging allies to amplify their voices, especially those who are under-represented in our national dialogue.
In 2023, we will be highlighting the role of gun violence survivors as changemakers who are leading efforts to end gun violence and support other survivors in their communities. The date of National Gun Violence Survivors Week also marks the start of Black History Month, and Black people in America are disproportionately impacted by our nation’s gun violence crisis. This year, National Gun Violence Survivors Week will shine a spotlight on the critical role of Black survivor leaders across the gun violence prevention movement. In addition, national virtual events will highlight the impact of gun violence on youth in America, on first responders and healthcare workers, on survivors whose shootings remain unsolved, and much more.
Gun violence in any form leaves an indelible mark on the lives of those who are personally impacted — whether someone has witnessed an act of gun violence, been threatened or wounded with a gun, or had a loved one wounded or killed with a gun. That’s why we use the term ‘survivor’ as inclusive of anyone who has personally experienced gun violence. This can include but is not limited to gun suicides, gun homicides, domestic violence involving a gun, mass shootings, unintentional shootings, and more. We are a nation of survivors. Firearms are the number one killer of children and teens in America. Every type of gun violence must be seen and represented to create change. Through participating in this campaign, you can help:
Gun violence changes lives forever. By sharing stories during National Gun Violence Survivors Week and throughout the year, we honor the human consequences of gun violence in America and those who have been affected.
Through elevating the lived experiences of gun violence in all its forms, we can build understanding of the full scope of gun violence. This includes the reality that more than 99 percent of gun deaths in the US are from shootings other than mass shootings, that six out of every 10 gun deaths are suicides, that gun homicide disproportionately impacts communities of color, women and children, and that in America, many gun homicides, especially those committed against Black and Latinx people, go unsolved.
Through hearing stories, we can help more people who have experienced gun violence know that they are not alone, and recognize the power of their voice.
Partners can join the campaign in the following ways:
Everytown will be creating resources, including a digital toolkit, to make it easier for partners to engage online and will lift up work and stories from partners on the front lines of this work throughout the week. If you have other ideas for how your organization can partner, please email partnerships@everytown.org.
More than 60 partner organizations, including national membership groups, non-profit organizations, and faith partners across various issue areas, joined the effort in recognition of National Gun Violence Survivors Week.