Raptors Start Petition To Create A National Gun Violence Day & Say 'It's Time For Action'

The Toronto Raptors want the first Friday in June to be known as National Gun Violence Awareness Day in Canada, and they've started a petition to make it happen.

The petition, published via Change.org, calls on Canadian legislators to join the United States in observing the day to honour the victims of gun violence in the wake of two mass shootings last month in Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo, New York.

"It has been difficult for our organization to observe the pain that our neighbours have been experiencing, and the events have reminded us that we are not immune," the team stated in the petition. "Along with mass events such as Nova Scotia in 2020, Canadians are exposed to individual acts of violence involving guns every day."

The Raptors also used the platform to cite a Statistics Canada report that found that firearm-related homicides had gone up 37% in the past 11 years.

The movement aims to collect the digital signatures of over 100,000 supporters before presenting them to the House of Commons.

The team hopes a motion will then be passed and that the day will become official in 2023.

"The Toronto Raptors ask you to urge Canadian legislators to observe National Gun Violence Awareness Day in Canada by adding your signature. Together, we can honour the survivors and victims of gun violence in North America, and bring awareness to the issue we face in Canada," they added.

At the time of this article, the online petition has raised over 2,500 signatures.

This article's right-hand cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.