We join those across the state and country mourning the 19 innocent children and two teachers who were murdered in Uvalde, Texas. We as the collective United Ways of New Jersey are also calling for action on gun violence as a public health issue.

Since January 1, 2022, there have been 17,202 deaths by gun violence across the United States. According to the Gun Violence Archive, of those, 649 were under the age of 18. 104 were children under the age of 11. In New Jersey in 2022, there have been 3 recorded mass shootings. Gun violence in New Jersey has taken 86 lives this year. The senseless, violent, and preventable killing of children, adults, LGBTQ+ people, People of Color, Jewish residents, and Asian Americans must be a call to action that gun violence has become a national public health issue.

United Ways across New Jersey are focused on the education, financial stability, and health of every person in every community we serve. Our work connects communities to financial, social, and human resources to address issues that affect the social determinants of health. We would be remiss if we did not step up to call on our elected officials to address gun violence as a public health issue. Elected officials have the ability to address reforms through the power of legislation.

Gun violence is preventable and not inevitable. Using common sense approaches to tackle this issue would take into account risk factors associated with gun violence. These include but are not limited to mental and emotional health and access to guns and ammunition.

We can change the course of this senseless and preventable tragedy that keeps repeating itself over and over in communities across our country if we are willing to come together, #LIVEUNITED and address this urgent public health issue.

Signed,

The President and CEOs of United Ways of New Jersey

Gloria Aftanski, United Way of Central Jersey
Dan Altilio, United Way of Hudson County
Bonnie Duncan, United Way of Hunterdon County
Kiran Gaudioso, United Way of Northern New Jersey
Bill Golderer, United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey
Michael Gower, United Way of Gloucester County
James Horne, United Way of Greater Union County
Lori-Anne McLane, United Way of Monmouth and Ocean Counties
Michelle Taylor, United Way of Delaware
Tom Toronto, Bergen County United Way
Sandra Toussaint-Burgher, United Way of Greater Mercer County
Catherine P. Wilson, United Way of Greater Newark
Yvonne Zuidema, United Way of Passaic County