Gun Violence Survivors Week

February 1 - February 7, 2023.

To highlight the resilience of America’s gun violence survivors and their leading work despite the trauma they have faced, and to recommit ourselves by honoring victims through advocating and demanding action.

February 1st through 7th will mark the third annual National Gun Violence Survivors Week—a week focused on sharing and amplifying the stories of gun violence survivors who live with the impact of gun violence every day of the year. It also marks the approximate time that gun deaths in the United States surpass the number of gun deaths experienced by our peer countries in an entire calendar year.

13x With a gun death rate 13 times greater than other high-income nations, by early February, more people are killed with guns in the U.S. than are killed with guns in our peer countries in an entire calendar year. (SurveyUSA).

58%

58 percent of American adults are survivors of gun violence, either experiencing gun violence themselves or caring for someone who has experienced gun violence in their lifetimes. (SurveyUSA).

68%

68 percent of Black and Latino American adults are survivors of gun violence, either experiencing gun violence themselves or caring for someone who has experienced gun violence in their lifetimes (SurveyUSA).

"Gun violence in any form can leave a lasting impact on individuals. That’s why we use the term ‘survivor’ as inclusive of anyone who has personally experienced gun violence—whether you have witnessed an act of gun violence, been threatened or wounded with a gun, or had someone you cared for wounded or killed with a gun. This includes but is not limited to gun suicides, domestic violence involving a gun, and unintentional shootings." - Everytown.

Moments That Survive aims to lift up survivor stories and shine a spotlight on the countless ways gun violence affects the lives of Americans. Every survivor has a unique experience, and this is a space for them to share their lived experiences and for Americans to recognize their stories. Sharing a story on Moments That Survive helps to demonstrate the human toll of gun violence. For some survivors, this can be a meaningful and empowering process to honor their experiences and recognize the lives of their loved ones who have been taken or wounded by gun violence.

Whether you have personally experienced gun violence or not, please take a moment this week to show your support for survivors by reading and elevating their stories: Gun violence has a lasting impact (momentsthatsurvive.org). Please take the time to read their stories.

Resources:

1. SurveyUSA. “Market Research Study”. SurveyUSA. (2018). https://bit.ly/2ExxpyZ.

2. Everytown. https://everytownsupportfund.org/everytown-survivor-network/national-

gun-violence-survivors-week/