The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has recently dismantled its exhibit honoring victims of gun violence, which featured portraits of 120 individuals killed by gun violence, including notable figures like Robert Godwin Sr., who was murdered while collecting aluminum cans. The Department of Justice confirmed that both the physical exhibit and its online counterpart have been taken down, despite plans to annually honor new victims as part of the exhibit’s dedication.
Advocacy groups, including Brady: United Against Gun Violence, voice deep concerns about the removal, perceiving it as a denial of the ongoing gun violence crisis in America. Activist Fred Guttenberg lamented his daughter Jaime’s portrait, a victim of the Parkland shooting, being discarded, calling the decision a disregard for those lost to gun violence. The Justice Department stated it would continue to honor victims, but specifics remain unclear as to the future of the removed portraits and the exhibit’s intent.
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