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Billboard's Open Letter on Gun Violence

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Billboard's Open Letter on Gun Violence, also known as Billboard's Open Letter and officially An Open Letter to Congress: Stop Gun Violence Now, was a petition for gun control organized by Billboard magazine, signed by nearly 200 prominent musical artists and entertainment industry executives, and sent to the United States Congress on June 23, 2016, for the purpose of reducing gun violence.[1] The open letter referred to recent shooting deaths: first of singer Christina Grimmie on June 10, and then the homophobic killing of 49 people at the Pulse nightclub shooting two days later—both incidents occurring in Orlando, Florida. The petition demanded that US lawmakers enact a universal background check of every gun buyer prior to purchase, and that "suspected terrorists" be banned from buying guns.[2] Billboard's open letter supported the House of Representatives sit-in protest led by Democratic Party members on June 22.[3]

Joan Jett was the first to sign

The first artist to sign Billboard's petition was Joan Jett, followed by Lady Gaga.[3] Other signees included Barbra Streisand, Britney Spears, Katy Perry, Billy Joel, Stevie Nicks, Alicia Keys and Sting.[4][5][6] Ex-Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr signed, along with Yoko Ono. Grimmie's friend Selena Gomez signed the document.[7]

Country music artist Charlie Daniels responded by opposing the open letter, saying that "bad people are bad people, and you cannot clean up anything by taking guns away."[8] Country musicians who signed the open letter against gun violence included Rosanne Cash, Elle King, k.d. lang, Cam, the Dixie Chicks, Bonnie Raitt and Melissa Etheridge.[9] Gun control activist Shannon Watts said that background checks on handgun sales have worked to reduce gun violence in 18 US states.[10]

List of signees, in published order

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References

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  1. ^ Dale, Michael (June 23, 2016). "Billboard's Open Letter On Gun Violence Signed By Barbra Streisand, Billy Joel, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Josh Groban, Lady Gaga, Many More". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "An Open Letter to Congress". Billboard. June 2016. Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Deerwester, Jamie (June 23, 2016). "Lady Gaga, Miranda, Britney Spears sign open letter on gun control". USA Today. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  4. ^ Le Vine, Lauren (June 23, 2016). "Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, and More Sign Open Letter to Congress Demanding Gun Control". Vanity Fair. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  5. ^ Staff (June 23, 2016). "Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and More Sign Billboard Letter to Congress Urging Gun Control". ABC News. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  6. ^ "McCartney, Gaga sign letter to Congress about gun violence". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. June 23, 2016. Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  7. ^ Adams, Annie (June 23, 2016). "Billboard, Hundreds of Artists and Music Executives Call on Congress to Stop Gun Violence". American Songwriter. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  8. ^ Leight, Elias (June 28, 2016). "Charlie Daniels On Gun Control: 'We've Got Enough'". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  9. ^ Stefano, Angela (June 23, 2024). "Cam, Dixie Chicks and More Sign Open Letter to Congress Regarding Gun Violence". The Boot. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  10. ^ Watts, Shannon (June 23, 2016). "How You Can Help End Gun Violence: 6 Steps Anyone Can Do to Effect Change". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
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