Hi–

Our daughter was shot in her own home and her homicide remains unsolved in
part due to a dangerous loophole in our background check system. We honor
her by advocating for better gun laws because we know that no one else
should have to experience the preventable pain of losing a loved one to
gun violence.

We emailed you about the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives (ATF)'s proposed rule, which would expand background checks to
more gun sales—and yesterday was the final day of the comment period for
ATF's rule.

In just ninety days, our movement drove more than 230,000 comments in
support of this life-saving policy—and we outnumbered the gun lobby's
opposition.

We've done our job. Now, all eyes are on ATF to finalize this rule as
written to keep our communities safe. [ [link removed] ]Share this post to let ATF know
we're counting on them.

Thank you for being with us in this movement—we can't do this work without
you!

Judi and Wayne Richardson
Everytown Survivor Network

---------- Forwarded Message ----------
From: Everytown for Gun Safety
Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Subject: A background check could've saved our daughter's life

[ [link removed] ]Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund logo

Note: This email contains descriptions of gun violence.

Hi–

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.

[ [link removed] ]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.
[ [link removed] ]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


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