Over the course of 2018 and 2019, 12 gun violence survivors shared their stories of grief and loss. This grief and loss is the legacy of the National Rifle Association, gun manufacturers, and those that push a guns-everywhere agenda. It is also the legacy of our Federal policymakers who remain unwilling to pass the laws that will help keep our communities safe. We are grateful to our storytellers who share their stories to make a difference and to encourage the action needed to prevent gun violence. We wish our legislators had the same courage.
Dani speaks with WAGV Board Member Deborah Gitell about domestic violence and how, in 2005, she was shot 5 times at point-blank range by her children’s father.
Luisa and Michael remember Anthony and talk about the impact his life and his loss has had on their lives.
Lorraine and her daughter Porsha talk about the loss of two sons and two brothers and how Lorraine has committed herself to the fight to prevent gun violence.
Mayra and her mother Josefina talk about Julio’s murder and celebrate his life, his death, and their life together.
Nurjahan Boulden talks about the shooting and her journey of recovery.
The Foster Family talks about Evan, the shooting, and how it has changed their lives in expected and unexpected ways.
Alec shares an essay he wrote for a college class – written just a few days before the Parkland shooting: Please Take Away Our Guns—Enough is Enough
“Sandy Hook Promise had one question for me. Did I march and what stood out for me? Here is my answer below:
Yes, I marched wearing my t-shirt with my son, Evan’s picture on the front riding his rocking horse, wearing his robe as a cape. He was 7 years old when he was murdered by someone with an assault weapon at his favorite place, the park. He would be 27 now. I carried in my hand a poster of my son, Alec, 10 months old in the ICU with a plastic eye patch over his eye injured by that assault weapon. My sign read, “Secure Our Children’s Inalienable Right to Life” “Stop Gun Violence Now”. It has been 20 years now that I have been in this fight and when I pulled out my sign in the garage on Saturday, I didn’t think that I would still be marching with my sign 20 years later. I saw young people expressing how it has been for them growing up doing drills for an active shooter. When I was a child we did drills for an atomic bomb possibly coming from an enemy country, something we could not control. We can prevent active shooters coming to our schools!
Rhonda”
Mindy talks with her mom, Donna, about what it means to be a gun violence survivor.
Marsha Shoushtari talks about the life and loss of her son, Bijan.