Gun violence is the #1 cause of death for children ages 1-19 in the United States, and 4.6 million children in the US live in a home with at least one unlocked and loaded gun.
Youth firearm suicide is at it’s highest rate in over 20 years, and LGBTQ+ young people are more than four times as likely to attempt suicide than their peers.
Gun homicides are the leading cause of death for Black boys and men aged 15-24, and this cause outstrips the next 15 leading causes of death combined.
$557 billion is the annual cost of gun violence in the US. This averages to $1.7K annually for every resident in the US.
The US gun homicide rate is 26x more than peer high-income countries, and women in the US are 28x more likely to die by gun violence than in other high-income nations.
Did you know? A safely secured gun is one that is unloaded and locked up and stored separately from its ammunition. A gun that is merely "hidden" is not safe in a home with minors or those who are at risk for suicide.
No other high-income country sees its citizens living in an epidemic of gun violence like we do in the United States. Virginians for Change rejects this uniquely American reality and seeks to move beyond thoughts and prayers as a primary response. We opt for approachable activism that incorporates gun violence prevention into daily life and routines, and education that empowers Virginians to shape a future where communities are safe from gun violence.
Why We Exist
From 5 minutes a month, to 30+ minutes a week, or anything in between, VFC breaks down GVP to approachable activism. Subscribe to our newsletters to have bite-sized actions sent directly to you, attend a monthly virtual meeting, or join a working team, and do something about gun violence.
We’ve taken the guesswork out of the overwhelming question: how can I possibly do anything to combat gun violence?! Use our guides to share information about safe firearm storage, get scripts for checking about firearms before playdates & advocating to elected officials, or host a meet-up to spread the word about GVP in your community.
Make an immediate impact on GVP – donate today! As a volunteer-run organization, VFC relies on the generosity of donors to further our mission of approachable GVP advocacy. All funds champion gun violence prevention in Virginia.
Advocacy Challenge
June is gun violence awareness month. Download and post a VFC flyer in your favorite coffee shop, library branch, or anywhere with a community resource board.
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