When Gun Violence Becomes Personal

photo by M & R Glasgow / flickr

Yesterday was National Gun Violence Prevention Day. I thought you might to read the heart-rending message of two parents who know something first hand about gun violence. 

"National Gun Violence Prevention Day is personal for us. 

Our 24-year-old daughter, Jessi, was murdered at a movie theatre in Aurora, Colorado. We never thought it would happen to us. It devastated us. All of a sudden we were thrust into the community of families who’ve lost a loved one to gun violence -- 33,000 each year. The heartache over losing our beloved baby girl never goes away. But neither does our resolve. We know we’re on the right side of history. The Aurora massacre was not the first time Jessi’s life was threatened by gun violence. A month earlier, mere minutes after she left a food court in Toronto, a shooting broke out. “I was shown how fragile life was,” our daughter said about the tragedy. “I saw lives change. I was reminded that we don't know when or where our time on Earth will end.” It’s not a coincidence. It’s not bad luck. Our country’s current gun laws put all of us at risk. We must demand change -- or too many Americans will pay the price for our inaction. Thank you, Sandy & Lonnie Phillips Gun Safety Advocates and Jessi’s Mom and Dad" --Roger Lovette / rogerlovette.blogspot.com