WASHINGTON, D.C. - The nation is again in the grasps of emotional turmoil
stemming from two senseless mass shootings within less than 24 hours of one
another. Currently, the total death toll from the two incidents is 32 people,
with 53 injured. The shootings in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio were the 21st
and 22nd occurrence of mass gun violence in 2019.
The frequency and lethality of these acts of violence
is an unbearable national outrage that must end. The National Association of
Social Workers (NASW) extends its condolences to the families and friends of
the victims of the shootings.
However, this weekend’s mass shooting in El Paso was a
repeat of the increasingly more frequent element of race and religion-driven hate
and white supremacy. That El Paso’s law enforcement officials’ labeling of the
incident as an act of domestic terrorism recognizes the growth of violent hate
crimes and white supremacy nationwide. Much of this is fueled by ugly racial
and religious discourse on social media, and the anti-immigrant rhetoric of
local and national public officials.
As we have done in the aftermath of past mass
shootings, NASW calls for legislation and policies restricting access to
assault-style rifles and high capacity ammunition magazines. Such restrictions
had been in place for over a decade, but Congress allowed them to lapse.
Finally, we urge the Senate to pass the Background Check Expansion Act of 2020 (S.42). NASW is currently partnering with the Brady gun
violence prevention coalition to help pass S.42
Given that the 2020
election season is fast approaching, social workers must make every effort to
elect lawmakers who support common-sense legislation to prevent the public
health crisis of gun violence. We must also actively participate in advocacy in
our communities around this issue, providing our profession’s unique social
justice perspective.
NASW continues its
collaborative efforts to raise awareness of the growth of hate speech and
crimes in our society. Most recently, we have joined hands with the Lawyers
Committee for Civil Rights’ Stop Hate Campaign in presenting a series of
webinars aimed at assisting victims of hate crimes or hate speech.
It is important to
mention that NASW is perplexed and disappointed that the administration, and
some members of Congress have insisted on identifying mental illness as the
main causative factor for mass shootings. Nothing can be further from the
truth. We must not allow ourselves to be distracted by such spurious rhetoric.
This public health
crisis must come to an immediate end.
NASW and its members will remain engaged with others in strenuously
fighting for sensible gun laws and an end to racial and religious-driven
hate crimes.