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Chilling Anti-Gun Violence Ad Features Kids Using Their New Back to School Supplies to Ward Off School Shooter
Painful to watch, imperative to see.
As the United States continues to do nothing against an epidemic of mass shootings, gun reform group Sandy Hook Promise has released a public service announcement framed as a back to school ad that captures a horrific reality faced by American students every day: school shootings.
You can watch the heartbreaking PSA below, but the depiction of gun violence may be disturbing for some viewers.
Survive the school year with these must-have #BackToSchool essentials. https://t.co/9KgxAQ0KGz This PSA contains gr… https://t.co/XXe7pkB5VG— Sandy Hook Promise (@Sandy Hook Promise) 1568808000.0
At first, the video is indiscernible from a typical back-to-school ad, beginning with what a return to education should feel like for children: bright and full of promise.
Things soon take a dark turn as students go from recommending colorful binders for their help with staying organized to recommending sneakers for running from shooters, a sock as a tourniquet for bullet wounds, and—most heartbreakingly—a new phone to tell a parent 'I love you' one final time.
People had visceral reactions to the powerful piece.
I genuinely- and I am not exaggerating - almost just threw up in the final scene of this. My God, why don’t we fix… https://t.co/cLz9X8JfN6— Jessica Shortall 🧂 (@Jessica Shortall 🧂) 1568831216.0
@sandyhook This is the most powerful video I have ever seen. Chills through my body and tears in my eyes. Wow. Pr… https://t.co/1WwChhaiZJ— Marcel (@Marcel) 1568816149.0
@sandyhook Powerful and absolutely devastating.— Nicole (@Nicole) 1568820575.0
@sandyhook Jesus Christ! I'm Scottish. We've had one school mass shooting, 23 years ago. 16 5 &6 yr olds were kille… https://t.co/xqfTykcZHI— Jacquie Hahn (@Jacquie Hahn) 1568818510.0
@sandyhook This is real. This is so sad. This is sickening. America is a very sick place. I hope it can get better.— Cliff (@Cliff) 1568810688.0
@sandyhook When a PSA looks more like a horror film trailer, we truely have lost our way in America.... change the… https://t.co/9cvpk3pqmy— Ra-ra Vaping Nicotine for 7 yrs smoker over 40 yrs (@Ra-ra Vaping Nicotine for 7 yrs smoker over 40 yrs) 1568822815.0
The majority-Democratic House of Representatives passed a sweeping gun reform bill in February. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) refuses to bring it to the Senate floor for a vote.
Learn more about what you can do to help prevent school shootings here.
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