Hi John,

The holidays are a difficult time for my family. The joy and peace of the season are clouded by what we have lost. Every celebration is a reminder that my daughter Carmen is gone.

Carmen was killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida almost six years ago. She was shot four times while she tried to hide in her AP Psychology class.

Carmen was beautiful, caring, funny, brilliant, and musically talented. She was the kind of daughter a mom can’t help but be proud of. She dreamt of going to prom, becoming a medical researcher, and having a family of her own. But on Valentine’s Day in 2018, a former student armed with an AR-15 and high-capacity magazines put an end to Carmen’s dreams. He killed 17 students and staff and wounded 17 more in just seconds.

I know that far too many families know what this grief feels like. Far too many families have an empty seat at their holiday table.

I joined the gun violence prevention movement and the board of the Alliance for Gun Responsibility to do my part to make sure that no one else has to experience what I have. I am so proud of the progress that we have been able to make. Together we have closed deadly loopholes, secured guns out from dangerous hands, banned the sale of assault weapons, and kept our young people safe. But our work is far from over.

That’s why I’m asking you to make a gift today to support the Alliance’s critical work in 2024. A generous supporter is matching every gift made before the end of the year, which means there has never been a better time to give.

I know that no single gun safety policy will bring Carmen back. No single policy alone will end the gun violence epidemic. But I also know that there is more that we can and must do to save lives. John join me in supporting the Alliance today.

Thank you,

April Schentrup