Everytown, Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action Statement on Attack on Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township

LANSING, Mich. - Everytown for Gun Safety and its grassroots network, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, released the following statements in response to the horrific attack on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township. The gunman drove into the church and began shooting at worshipers with an assault weapon, killing two people and wounding five others. The gunman then set the church on fire. The attack left four people killed and eight wounded.

"No one should have to fear getting shot and killed in their house of worship - but in America, we're no strangers to this type of extremist violence. It's the direct, deadly consequence of allowing weapons of war on our streets." said Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action. "We can't afford to become numb to this. Until Congress bans assault weapons, even our most sacred spaces will remain vulnerable to mass tragedy."

"This horrific attack at a place of worship is a stark reminder of how gun violence and hate too often intersect, and how deadly that intersection can be," said Megan Wick, a volunteer with the Michigan chapter of Moms Demand Action. "In Michigan and across this country, we must reject the normalization of guns and radicalism as tools of fear or intimidation. We will fight harder than ever for common-sense gun laws that protect our houses of worship, our schools, and our neighborhoods from this kind of terror."

"We can't pretend this is some distant horror story. Extremism and violence are not strangers here in Michigan," said Katy Winkler, a student leader with Michigan State Students Demand Action. "Yesterday's attack at a church is yet another painful reminder that our communities are under threat. As students and as citizens, we refuse to be bystanders. It's time for leaders at every level to act decisively: pass strong gun safety laws, disrupt radical networks, and ensure protection of faith spaces, schools, and neighborhoods. We're watching, and we won't stay silent."

In Michigan, approximately 1,421 people are killed by firearms every year and 2,983 are wounded by guns. An average of 115 children and teens die by guns every year in the state - two-thirds of those deaths being firearm homicide. Gun violence costs Michigan $16.8 billion each year, of which $380.5 million is paid by taxpayers. More information about gun violence in Michigan is available here.