Following is a statement by Frank C. Worrell, PhD, president of the American Psychological Association, in response to the mass shooting at Club Q, an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado:
“In this week of Thanksgiving, the families of those directly affected by the hate-fueled mass shooting in Colorado Springs will be hard pressed to find reasons to be thankful. The American Psychological Association stands in support of the families and communities devastated by this preventable tragedy.
“The gunman in the Colorado Springs shooting has been charged with a hate crime. It is clear that violence rooted in hate and racism is all too common. The Human Rights Campaign has reported at least 32 transgender and gender nonconforming people killed in 2022 so far, amid a wave of anti-transgender legislation in states across the country. The Anti-Defamation League has tracked 39 reported incidences of antisemitism in November alone, from bomb threats to physical violence to brazen hate-filled propaganda.
“We need to commit to both eliminating hateful rhetoric and strengthening gun laws.
“The mass shooting in Colorado Springs followed the horrific attacks at the University of Virginia, a drumbeat that continues without fail. In November alone, there have been at least 27 reported mass shootings with more than 40 victims dead.
“The impact of this continued violence exacerbates an already unacceptable and unnecessary public health crisis brought about by a nation that seems to refuse to recognize hate and violence are intertwined, and easy access to destructive weapons is a tragic facilitator.
“We must stop acquiescing to the belief there is nothing we can do. As a nation, we cannot ignore the evidence-based solutions to gun violence.
“Congress has made significant progress with the passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, but there is much more lawmakers can do to prevent these senseless tragedies. One of the owners of the Colorado nightclub said the gunman entered with ‘tremendous firepower.’ APA has repeatedly asked Congress to ban weapons that can inflict mass casualties. Research shows that this step, and policies to promote safe gun storage, expand background checks, track unlawful attempts to purchase firearms, and support extreme risk protection orders like red flag laws, can not only help prevent mass shootings, but other deaths by firearms, including suicides.
“As a society that envisions itself as an example for the world, we can and must do better.”