*By Chloe Aiello* Mass shootings have claimed 23 lives in the U.S. within the past two weeks alone ー most recently in Thousand Oaks, Calif., where a gunman killed 12 at a country-themed bar Wednesday night. But exit polls from the midterms revealed voters still don't think gun legislation is a problem in the U.S. Parkland shooting survivor and March for Our Lives co-founder Delaney Tarr worries people will keep dying at the hands of gun violence until "everyone has a story." "It's that mentality of, 'It's not important to vote on because it hasn't happened to us yet.' But, increasingly, every community in this country is affected by gun violence," she told Cheddar Big News on Thursday. "If we don't start voting on it now like it is one of the most important issues ー because it is ー then people are just going to keep dying." Her comments follow a mass shooting on Thursday morning that left 12 dead and many more injured. A Marine Corps veteran with a history of suspected mental health issues opened fire in a country bar ー a popular spot among local university students. Police believe the suspect, 28-year-old Ian David Long, later turned the gun on himself. The Thousand Oaks shooting comes less than two weeks after a gunman killed 11 in a Pittsburgh synagogue. Tarr said gun violence has become so common that people are numb to it. "When we are seeing these numbers and seeing these statistics, we forget the humanity of the issue. We become numb to it," she said. "We need to focus on the humanity, the lives that were lost. Because that is the way we can is how we can restore empathy to our country. Because really, this is an issue of empathy, it is an issue of life and death." Tarr said she was encouraged to see gun control advance in the 2018 midterm elections. In the House, swept by Democrats, candidates with strong views on gun control took seats both in blue-leaning swing states, like Virginia, Nevada, Wisconsin and Colorado, as well as in more conservative ones, like South Carolina and Kansas, [according to The Trace](https://www.thetrace.org/2018/11/nra-2018-election-results-gun-vote/). Spending by gun rights lobbying group the National Rifle Association, was also way down. The Senate was a bit of a different story, but Tarr remains optimistic about the results ー especially when it came to young voter turnout. "What we really focused on was the fact that the youth turnout was record-breaking this year," Tarr said. "When we are seeing this young voter turnout, we are also seeing things like more than 27 NRA-backed politicians being voted out of office. That is incredible progress in itself." "I just want to say thanks to the young people, really, because those are the people I want to give credit to, all the young people in this country who've been fighting for positive change," she added.

Share:
More In Culture
Queen Latifah on Ending the Stigma Around Obesity, New Film 'Hustle'
Actor, entertainer, and hip hop icon Queen Latifah is partnering with It's Bigger Than Me, an initiative with the goal of ending the stigma around obesity. She joined Cheddar News to discuss how she is working toward educating others and having important conversations about the social struggles that come with obesity. “We can’t let the Queen Latifah’s of the world not exist. We need people to care about other people," the "Hustle" star said.
Venture Capitalist Moms Lead $12M Fundraise for Kinside Child Care Marketplace
Child care marketplace startup Kinside announced raising $12 million in a Series A round led by venture capitalists who are mothers themselves. The company aids parents searching for affordable child care easier by providing concierge support in a marketplace of verified professionals and helping them tap into flexible spending accounts (FSA) and other benefits. Founder and CEO Shadiah Sigala joined Cheddar News to talk about the fresh funds and the ongoing effects of the pandemic on the care of young children.
Truly You! Character Creator Shows Diversity in Children's Toys
When it comes to diversity in children's toys, we have come a long way as a society but we still have a ways to go. One group of students decided to take matters into their own hands. Truly You! Character Creator is a fashion illustration activity set made for youth by youth. Lindsay Buckingham, one of the toy’s creators, sat down with Cheddar News to talk all about it.
Joel Kim Booster and 'Fire Island' Cast on Putting Together the Gay Rom-Com
Perfect for Pride Month, Hulu’s "Fire Island" is a queer take on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. The cast of the gay rom-com, Joel Kim Booster, Bowen Yang, Conrad Ricamora, and Matt Rogers, joined Cheddar News to discuss the groundbreaking film. "I had to write it completely and have something to point to, to say this is the story, this is actually good, this is something that people will want to watch," said the writer and star Booster. "And so it took a long time, but I'm very lucky and blessed that I had a lot of people along the way who believed in it."
Load More