Nearly 200 musicians, artists, entertainers and executives are encouraging Congress to do something about gun control.
In an open letter to Congress released by Billboard, dozens of major entertainment stars and executives told Congress to adopt new gun control measures in the wake of the June 12 massacre in Orlando, Fla.
Katy Perry, Meghan Trainor, Calvin Harris, Jennifer Lopez, Cher, Joe Jonas, Kesha, Barbra Streisand, Common, Diplo, Alicia Keys, Sia, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Iggy Pop, Pearl Jam, Yoko Ono, Questlove, Bonnie Raitt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Billy Joel, Shakira, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Dixie Chicks, DJ Khaled, Conan O’Brien and Ellen DeGeneres are just a few of the hundreds who pledged their support in the letter.
Joan Jett was the first to sign the letter, followed by Lady Gaga.
The letter, written with help by anti-gun violence group Everytown for Gun Safety, is plastered on the front of this week’s Billboard cover.
“STOP GUN VIOLENCE NOW” the title reads in red, orange and yellow.
“As leading artists and executives in the music industry, we are adding our voices to the chorus of Americans demanding gun change,” text in yellow reads under the title.
The names of those part of the letter cascade down in the rest of the colors of the rainbow, from yellow to purple — an ode to the rainbow flag of the gay community.
Meanwhile in Congress, there has been a renewed call for new gun control measures following the Orlando attack. But Republicans and Democrats have been unable to reach an agreement on any new bill.
Four gun control measures were rejected by the Senate Monday, two from Republicans, and two from Democrats. Following the failure in the Senate, House Democrats began a sit-in on the House floor to push for action.
“Music always has been celebrated communally, on dancefloors and at concert halls. But this life-affirming ritual, like so many other daily experiences — going to school or church or work — now is threatened, because of the gun violence in this country,” the Billboard letter said. “The one thing that connects the recent tragedies in Orlando is that it is far too easy for dangerous people to get their hands on guns. We call on Congress to do more to prevent the gun violence that kills more than 90 Americans every day and injures hundreds more.”
A CNN/ORC poll released Monday shows 55 percent of Americans support stricter gun control laws.
