Tell State Leaders: Stop the Killing. End Shoot First Laws.

People are dying—and “shoot first” laws are to blame. 

A major new study from Everytown for Gun Safety shows states with so-called “stand your ground” laws have dramatically higher homicide rates. And the damage isn’t evenly spread—Black Americans are disproportionately harmed. These laws don’t make anyone safer. They escalate conflicts, reward aggression, and embolden armed vigilantism.

"Shoot first" or "stand your ground" laws give legal cover to kill, fueling violence instead of preventing it. These laws don’t protect lives—they take them.

Tell leaders in states with “stand your ground” laws: “Stop the senseless violence. Reverse ‘shoot first’ laws to save lives now.”

The research is clear. States that pass these laws see spikes in homicides. But we don’t have to live like this. We can reverse course—if we act now.

By pressuring governors and state legislatures to repeal shoot first laws, we can dismantle policies that legalize deadly force and replace them with common-sense rules that prioritize de-escalation and human life. Every repeal is a step toward a justice system that values accountability over aggression.

Some states are already moving to fix this. Leaders in other states are working to set the agenda for upcoming legislative sessions. Now is our chance to push more to do the right thing. Gun lobbyists are already in their ears, so we need to be louder.

Tell state leaders across the nation: end shoot first laws now. Stop the killing.

The petition to state leaders reads: “Stop the senseless violence. Reverse ‘shoot first’ laws to save lives now.”