Human rights organization Amnesty International issued a travel warning to possible visitors to the United States Wednesday.
What We Know:
- Due to the terrible acts of gun violence that have occurred in the past week, Amnesty put out a statement warning future travelers of the dangers of America.
- Ernest Coverson, Campaign Manager for the End Gun Violence Campaign at Amnesty International USA, stated “Travelers to the United States should remain cautious that the country does not adequately protect people’s right to be safe, regardless of who they might be. People in the United States cannot reasonably expect to be free from harm – a guarantee of not being shot is impossible…Once again, it is chillingly clear that the U.S. government is unwilling to ensure protection against gun violence.”
- The warning not only discussed gun violence but racism and other discrimination, highlighting that the traveler’s race, home country, ethnicity, and sexual or gender identity may put them at high risk after recent attacks linked to white supremacist ideology.
- The access that U.S. citizens has to guns without proper regulation has been a hot topic in society for years, especially with more mass shootings occurring all the time.
- According to their press release, the organization “has been calling for common sense reform regarding the use and possession of firearms…Amnesty International USA’s campaign to end gun violence has focused efforts on passing S.42., the Assault Weapons ban, and the Disarm Hate Act.”
- This bill will “prohibit firearm sale or transfer to and receipt or possession by an individual who has: (1) been convicted in any court of a misdemeanor hate crime, or (2) received from any court an enhanced hate crime misdemeanor sentence.”
Shoutout to the organization to bringing attention to these terrible acts.