After the tragic shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, on Sunday, June 12, the music world has banded together to sign an open letter, begging Congress to “stop gun violence now.”
The letter was published on Thursday, June 23, by Billboard and includes the signatures of many A-listers, including Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Selena Gomez, Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera and Meghan Trainor, among others.
The letter implores Congress to enforce stricter laws when it comes to obtaining firearms in the United States, and points out that “gun violence kills more than 90 Americans every day and injures hundreds more.” Billboard (and its army of celebrity supporters) suggests that potential gun owners should be subject to more thorough background checks and suspected terrorists should be banned from purchasing guns.
“Billboard and the undersigned implore you — the people who are elected to represent us — to close the deadly loopholes that put the lives of so many music fans, and all of us, at risk,” the letter reads.
Signatories such as Gaga, 30, and Gomez, 23, have been vocal about their personal connection to gun-related violence.
The “Born This Way” singer spoke at a vigil on Monday, June 13, held in honor of the 49 killed and 53 wounded in the deadliest mass shooting in American history.
“Lost members of the LGBT community, I hope you know that myself and so many are your allies,” the proud LGBT advocate said. “I can’t help but feel that this level of hatred, like all prejudicial crimes, is an attack on humanity itself. … Tonight, Orlando, we are united with you to remember.”
On the Miami stop of her Revival tour on Saturday, June 11, Gomez paid tribute to her fellow pop star and friend Christina Grimmie, who was shot and killed while signing autographs during a meet-and-greet after a June 10 concert in Orlando.
“When she was 14, we met her and my parents, and I signed her,” the Disney channel alumna tearfully told concertgoers. “One thing about Christina and her family is that she holds her faith so closely to her. And I think it’s not about a religion and it’s not about anything or good deeds. It’s just that she had faith, and I don’t really understand how this really happened, but I would like to dedicate this next song to her.”
Incidentally, Billboard’s letter has come out shortly after the Senate failed to pass legislation on four gun control measures. Democratic lawmakers, led by Representative John Lewis, organized a sit-in on the floor of the House chamber on Wednesday, June 22, demanding a vote on gun control legislation. They ended their sit-in 25 hours later, on Thursday, after drawing attention to the issue.
Read the full list of stars who signed the letter below:
Adam Lambert
Adam Levin (X Ambassadors)
Akiva Schaeffer
Alan Gilbert (New York Philharmonic)
Alanis Morissette
Alex Pall (The Chainsmokers)
Alicia Keys
Andrew Bird
Andy Samberg
Angel Coleman
Barbra Streisand
Beck
Bill Kreutzmann (Dead & Company)
Billy Joel
Bo Koster (My Morning Jacket)
Bob Weir (Dead & Company)
Bonnie Raitt
Brad Delson (Linkin Park)
Brendon Urie (Panic at the Disco)
Britney Spears
Butch Walker
Calvin Harris
Cam
Carl Broemel (My Morning Jacket)
Carole King
Casey Harris (X Ambassadors)
Charlie Puth
Cher
Chester Bennington (Linkin Park)
Christina Aguilera
Christina Perri
Conan O’Brien
Courtney Love
Cyndi Lauper
Demi Lovato
Diplo
Drew Taggart (The Chainsmokers)
Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam)
Elle King
Ellen DeGeneres
Elvis Costello
Emily Robison (Dixie Chicks)
Eric Hutchinson
Fher Olvera (Maná)
Glenn Kotche (Wilco)
Gregory Porter
Halsey
Iggy Pop
Jack Antonoff
Jackson Browne
James Corden
Jason Mraz
Jean Michel Jarre
Jeff Ament (Pearl Jam)
Jeff Chimenti (Dead & Company)
Jeff Tweedy (Wilco)
Jennifer Lopez
Jim James (My Morning Jacket)
Joan Jett
Joe Hahn (Linkin Park)
Joe Jonas
John Mellencamp
John Stirratt (Wilco)
Jorge Hernandez (Los Tigres del Norte)
Josh Groban
Julia Michaels
Justin Tranter
Kaskade
Katy Perry
K.D. Lang
Kelly Rowland
Kesha
Kid Cudi
Lady Gaga
Lecrae
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Macklemore
Mark Ronson
Martie Maguire (Dixie Chicks)
Matisyahu
Matt Cameron (Pearl Jam)
Meghan Trainor
Melissa Etheridge
Michael Bublé
Michael Stipe
Mickey Hart (Dead & Company)
Mikael Jorgensen (Wilco)
Mike D
Mike McCready (Pearl Jam)
Mike Shinoda (Linkin Park)
Natalie Maines (Dixie Chicks)
Nate Reuss
Nick Jonas
Nicky Jam
Pat Monahan
Pat Sansone (Wilco)
Patrick Hallahan (My Morning Jacket)
Paul McCartney
Pete Wentz
Peter Tork
Prince Royce
Pusha T
Questlove
Ricky Martin
Ringo Starr
Rivers Cuomo
Rob Bourdon (Linkin Park)
Rob Thomas
Rosanne Cash
Rufus Wainwright
Ryan Leslie
Ryan Lewis
Sam Harris (X Ambassadors)
Sara Bareilles
Selena Gomez
Shakira
Sia
Stevie Nicks
Sting
Stone Gossard (Pearl Jam)
Talib Kweli
Terence Blanchard
Thom Yorke
Tom Blankenship (My Morning Jacket)
Tony Bennett
Tori Amos
Trent Reznor
Troye Sivan
Vic Mensa
Wayne Coyne
Yoko Ono
Zayn Malik