Yoko Ono has spoken out to make a plea for gun control on the anniversary of her late husband John Lennon‘s murder – as the music world pays tribute to the late Beatle.

John Lennon was shot and killed by Mark David Chapman outside his home on this day (8 December) in 1980.

To mark his death, Lennon’s widower has shared a powerful message calling for stricter gun control in the US – along with a photo of his blood-stained glasses.


“Dear Friends,” she wrote. “Every day, 91 Americans are killed with guns. We are turning this beautiful country into a War Zone.

Together, let’s bring back America, the green land of Peace. The death of a loved one is a hollowing experience. After 36 years, our son Sean and I still miss him.”

Dear Friends, Every day, 91 Americans are killed with guns. We are turning this beautiful country into a War Zone…. Posted by Yoko Ono on Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Meanwhile, his son Sean along with The Beatles and other figures from the music and arts world have also posted tributes in memory of Lennon:


John Lennon tribute at Leicester Square tube station on 36th anniversary of his death ?: @londonwalks #JohnLennon pic.twitter.com/u2k89Oq3gQ — PA Entertainment (@PAshowbiz) December 8, 2016

On the 36th anniversary of his death RIP #johnlennon here's a still from the film A Hard Days Night a photo in a new book by @marklewisohn pic.twitter.com/Gom8DFGkPC — TheFarm/PeterHooton (@TheFarm_Peter) December 8, 2016

Today marks 36 years since #JohnLennon died and the 73rd birthday of #JimMorrison pic.twitter.com/xaqslCD5h7 — Pretty Green Glasgow (@PG_Glasgow) December 8, 2016

36 years ago #JohnLennon was murdered, this year Jo Cox was assassinated and now there are threats to Gina Miller's life. pic.twitter.com/MY72BNaUEc — Will Black (@WillBlackWriter) December 8, 2016

Lennon was just 40-years-old when he died – just three weeks after the release of his final album, ‘Double Fantasy’.

Last month, an expletive and swear-filled letter from Lennon to Paul McCartney was put up for auction. Lennon writes in his letter: “I hope you realise what shit you and the rest of my ‘kind and unselfish’ friends laid on Yoko and me, since we’ve been together”.

Read it in full here.