An estimated 2,000 people are injured by gun violence every day and there are between 2 to 7 million people with life-long disabilities from gun violence. Survivors of gun violence often lack the health services they need to fully recover. This includes both mental and physical health services. Psychological care is frequently non-existent, leaving communities to deal with life-long traumas of everyday violence without support. Even when there are health services available, living in an area with high levels of gun violence can restrict access to health services by making it unsafe to move across your community. In addition to this, responses to gun violence are often focused on military and police spending.  

Even in the midst of the global pandemic, arms sales and transfer continue and violence rages. In some countries, the sale of weapons to civilians even spiked. But what the world needs right now is healthcare, not warfare!  The United Nations General Secretary released a call for a global ceasefire amidst the pandemic. Watch this short clip to learn more: http://webtv.un.org/search/un-secretary-general%E2%80%99s-call-for-global-ceasefire-gains-support-/6146925250001/?term=arms&sort=date  

Also, head to SCRAP Weapons to learn more about how you can support their initiative that calls for a freeze on all arms production, transfer and sales during the pandemic: https://www.scrapweapons.com/global-freeze/  

More info:  

https://www.thetrace.org/projects/coronavirus/  

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/01/opinion/covid-gun-violence-hospitals.html