America is in the grip of a gun violence epidemic. On average, American young people know at least one person who has been injured or killed by a gun, according to a 2024 report from SPLC, Everytown for Gun Safety, and the Polarization & Extremism Research & Innovation Lab (PERIL). Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows “firearm injuries were the leading cause of death among children and teens” in the U.S. in 2020 and 2021. Research also shows gun violence in the United States disproportionately affects LGBTQ+ people.