We’re Wearing Orange Today to Take a Stand Against Gun Violence

RELATED: New Mom, New Fears in the Age of Mass Shootings

Why orange? According to the Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, the color symbolizes the value of life. It was also the color worn by teens on the south side of Chicago in 2013 to honor one of their classmates, Hadiya Pendleton, a high school student who was shot and killed in a random act of violence. Learn more about Hadiya’s story in the video below: 

And if that’s not enough to get you rummaging through your closet for some orange today, these six facts from Everytown might do the trick:

1. On an average day, 91 Americans are killed by guns.

2. Seven children and teens in the U.S. are killed with guns each day.

3. America’s gun murder rate is more than 25 times the average of that of other developed countries.

4. In an average month, 51 women are shot dead by a current or former husband or boyfriend.

5. There are 12,000 gun murders every year in the U.S.

6. The presence of a gun in a domestic violence situation increases the risk that a woman will be murdered by five times.

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Unfortunately, gun violence isn’t a problem that we can solve in a day. However, you can do your part by raising awareness. Start by wearing orange today and sharing these stats #wearorange.