Russell Simmons Takes Aim at Gun Violence

East Hampton resident Russell Simmons is speaking out against gun violence. The hip-hop mogul emailed grassroots progressives on behalf of the Courage Campaign last week, promoting stricter gun control measures before the Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearing on an assault weapons ban.

Said Simmons, “I will do all I can to help pass common sense reform and end our epidemic of gun violence.”

Jam Master Jay, a friend of Simmons and member of his brother’s seminal hip-hop trio Run–DMC, was shot and killed in Queens back in 2002.