Obama calls on supporters to ‘take action’ to change leadership, laws on Gun Violence Awareness Day

Former President Obama on Friday marked National Gun Violence Awareness Day by calling on his supporters to “take action” and push U.S. leadership and laws to commit to keeping “kids safe from gun violence.”

“This National Gun Violence Awareness Day, show your commitment to keeping our kids safe from gun violence,” he tweeted. “Then, for everyone we’ve lost, take action to change our leadership and our laws until they reflect that commitment – no matter how long it takes.”

This National Gun Violence Awareness Day, show your commitment to keeping our kids safe from gun violence. Then, for everyone we’ve lost, take action to change our leadership and our laws until they reflect that commitment – no matter how long it takes. https://t.co/lraIwlQAgl

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) June 1, 2018

Obama also retweeted a post from his progressive group, Organizing For Action, which encouraged people to call on Congress to act on gun violence, and to spread awareness for the cause by wearing orange on Friday.

The tweet comes weeks after a gunman opened fire at a Texas high school, killing 10 and injuring more than a dozen others.

The national conversation on gun violence intensified in the weeks after a shooting at a Parkland, Fla., high school in February left 17 dead, but had diminished in focus among lawmakers in the weeks leading up to May’s shooting in Santa Fe, Texas.

Obama pushed for gun control measures during his time in office, particularly after the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting. He also issued executive orders to expand background checks for gun purchases, but Congress failed to take legislative action.

Several other Democratic lawmakers and leaders, including Hillary Clinton, tweeted their support for the “Wear Orange” movement.

Too many American children will never have the opportunity to realize their dreams because their lives were cut short by a bullet. Our kids deserve to live free from the threat of gun violence. #WearOrange @Everytown @MomsDemand pic.twitter.com/SjacOKPgVv

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 1, 2018

Why do I #WearOrange? pic.twitter.com/gKnYMuveJ4

— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) June 1, 2018

Hadiya Pendleton was only 15 years old when she was shot and killed outside her school in Chicago. I #WearOrange today for Hadiya, for the 96 Americans who die every day from gun violence, and most importantly, to imagine a nation where we don’t accept this as normal. pic.twitter.com/kBs4UWKaOd

— Gabrielle Giffords (@GabbyGiffords) June 1, 2018

I #WearOrange today to support the millions of Americans standing with @Everytown and @MomsDemand to support common-sense solutions to end gun violence. pic.twitter.com/K639wDuxGM

— Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) June 1, 2018