Gong-Gershowitz Speaks on Gun Violence Tragedy in Highland Park

GLENVIEW, Ill – State Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, D-Glenview, issued this statement regarding the gun violence tragedy that unfolded in Highland Park:

“Grief. Despair. Anger. We have all run out of words to adequately express the heartbreak and rage we feel as families are, once again, ripped apart by a mass shooting in America. Another day, another mass shooting and no, we are not okay.

“When tragedy strikes someone else’s community, someone else’s family, we send thoughts and prayers and wonder to ourselves whether something like that could happen here. It happened yesterday to our neighbors in Highland Park, and we are grieving with them. We are in shock. Many of us have deep connections to Highland Park. Both of my nieces grew up there. We have colleagues and friends who were there as shots rang out while the community gathered to celebrate our birth as a nation.

“The victims are not mere statistics. They are fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, sisters and brothers – all beloved members of our community. We have normalized gun violence in America, but this isn’t normal. The time for half-measures is done. Keeping assault weapons out of the hands of someone who is mentally ill isn’t enough. It’s time to ban these weapons.

“I will continue to work with my colleagues, law enforcement and community stakeholders every day to find ways to get weapons of war off our streets, get guns out of the hands of dangerous, violent or unstable people, and stop the flow of illegal guns. We also need to put real attention and resources into providing a more effective mental health and community resource safety net.

“We will not stop until we have made Illinois a safe place for our kids and our families. And to be absolutely clear, we are going to act with actual legislation – not thoughts and prayers.”