In this joint statement on the Las Vegas shooting, four Upstate county Democratic Party leaders, led by Kate Franch, demand ‘more than thoughts and prayers’ to stem senseless violence across the U.S.

GREENVILLE, S.C. (Oct 5, 2017) – We all woke up to unthinkable news on Monday morning that yet another mass shooting had occurred in our country. The latest counts have 59 people killed and more than 500 injured in America’s deadliest mass shooting in history. This comes just one year after we lost a child to gun violence at Townville Elementary School; one year after the shooting at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, FL., that killed 49 and injured 58 others; almost five years after 27 school-aged children and their teachers were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary; and 10 years after 32 were killed at Virginia Tech. Our thoughts, prayers, and meditations go out to those affected by the shooting in Las Vegas and to those whose old wounds are reopened every time another senseless shooting occurs.

“We are heartbroken for the victims, their families, those attending the music festival, and for all of us emotionally affected by the violence in Las Vegas and send our thoughts and prayers to them all,” shared Greenville County Democratic Party (GCDP) Chair Kate Franch. “Enough is enough, though. We must also move into action. Gun control has been a dirty phrase in U.S. politics for too long and it’s time we demand more than ‘thoughts and prayers’ from our political leaders in Washington and in Columbia. We waited for action after Columbine High School, Virginia Tech, Fort Hood, Sandy Hook, San Bernardino, Orlando, and after tragedy struck our backyards at Townville Elementary – we will wait no more.”

“Just last week, one year to the date after the shooting at Townville Elementary, Rep. Jeff Duncan pushed his latest bill – ‘the silencer’ bill – through congressional committee and now to the floor of the U.S. House. Rep. Duncan frequently shows disregard for the well-being of his constituents, but this latest effort to shepherd through any bill the National Rifle Association (NRA) places in front of him is a new low. We cannot even imagine how much worse this week’s latest shooting would have been if the shooter had access to gun silencers,” continued Franch.

“Now is not the time to make getting a gun easier or to allow guns to become more dangerous. It’s time to come together, to make our communities safer, and to fight for common sense gun control legislation in Washington and Columbia. We’re no longer waiting for politicians to feel compelled to make a change; we’re here to tell them that the time has come. It’s now. And change to our gun laws is going to happen. Make your voice heard. Be on the right side of history. Join your local Democratic Party, Moms Demand Action, or any other organization fighting to make our communities safe again. We don’t have time to wait any longer.”

This statement is signed by:

Kate Franch,
chair, Greenville County Democratic Party

Charles Lewis,
chair, Greenwood County Democratic Party

Shelly Roehrs,
chair, Spartanburg Democratic Party

Paulette Keffas-Chassin,
chair, Oconee County Democratic Party

For more information: Email Communications Director Jarrod Wiggins  or (320)292-0504.