Barack Obama and Joe Biden Call for Gun Control on ‘National Gun Violence Awareness Day’

Former President Barack Obama and his Vice President Joe Biden both tweeted calling for gun control on Friday, which was “National Gun Violence Awareness Day.”

Obama encouraged people to “keep speaking up, voting, and changing laws across the country.” Biden said that the violence “has to stop.” On his campaign for president website, he outlines the policies he plans to enact if elected president which would include banning the manufacture and sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

Both former leaders brought up the black communities and Americans with Obama saying that they are “disproportionately” harmed and Biden saying that they “are ten times more likely to die by gun homicide.”

On National Gun Violence Awareness Day, we #WearOrange to honor the victims and survivors of gun violence––which continues to disproportionately harm Black communities. Then keep speaking up, voting, and changing laws across the country.

This #GunViolenceAwarenessDay, I am reflecting on the life of Hadiya Pendleton, whose murder inspired the #WearOrange movement. The hard truth is that Black Americans are ten times more likely to die by gun homicide. It has to stop.

On National Gun Violence Awareness Day, we #WearOrange to honor the victims and survivors of gun violence––which continues to disproportionately harm Black communities. Then keep speaking up, voting, and changing laws across the country.

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) June 5, 2020

This #GunViolenceAwarenessDay, I am reflecting on the life of Hadiya Pendleton, whose murder inspired the #WearOrange movement.

The hard truth is that Black Americans are ten times more likely to die by gun homicide. It has to stop.

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) June 5, 2020

The first time the day was recognized was during the Obama administration.

From KATC News in Louisiana:

The Acadiana group of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is encouraging residents to participate in National Gun Violence Awareness Day Friday and the start of Wear Orange Weekend, June 5 – June 7. This reserved-time honors all the victims of gun violence in America and brings folks together in a unified effort to lessen the frequency of these tragedies.

Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is a non-profit grass-roots group that includes a diverse community of American gun violence survivors, victims, veterans, parents, mayors, and students from all political persuasions and walks of life. They have a chapter in every state across the country. The group works to prevent gun violence by advocating for stronger laws and policies that provide gun-safety measures for the community and children. They support the second amendment, and emphasize that they are not anti-gun, but anti-gun violence.

Orange is the color that Hadiya Pendleton’s friends wore in her honor when she was shot and killed in Chicago at the age of 15 – just one week after performing at President Obama’s second inaugural parade in 2013. After her death, they asked citizens to stand up, speak out, and Wear Orange to raise awareness about gun violence.

“Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America supports the second amendment right, but we also recognize that with our rights does come responsibility, so we try to prevent gun violence and promote gun safety in our communities,” said Blair Miller, Events Lead for the local Acadiana Group of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, Louisiana Chapter.