Note: This email contains descriptions of gun violence.

John–

A background check could have saved our daughter's life.

On January 8, 2010, armed intruders burst into our daughter Darien Richardson's home in Portland, Maine, shooting several times into her bedroom.

Her world—and ours—was turned upside down in an instant.

Darien endured great physical and emotional pain working to recover, spending three days in the ICU, 18 days in critical care, and she even had future surgeries scheduled. But tragically, on February 28, 2010, she died from complications of her gunshot wounds, and her life was cut short at age 25.

Darien's homicide has never been solved, in part due to dangerous loopholes in the current background check system that allow unlicensed sellers to sell guns online and at gun shows without running background checks.

But the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) recently proposed a measure that would help close these loopholes.

Tell ATF to help prevent more senseless tragedies by closing these deadly gaps in our background check system.

The handgun used to shoot Darien was recovered a month later at the scene of another murder. And further investigation led law enforcement to a man who originally bought the gun at retail but sold it at a gun show soon after to someone he didn't know.

No background check, no records kept—because that's not required by law when unlicensed gun sellers are the ones selling guns.

Darien's death was preventable, and no one should have to endure the pain she did or the pain we now live with. This is why we honor her by advocating for better gun laws, like closing these dangerous loopholes. Join us: In just two clicks, submit your comment and demand background checks.

It's too late for us. We can't have Darien back, but it's not too late to prevent future tragedies.

Thank you for taking action,

Judi and Wayne Richardson
Everytown Survivor Network