John, telling my little sister's story is never easy. But I do it to save other children from facing the same cruel fate.

Today marks six years since a gunman entered Carmen's school, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL. He shot Carmen four times with a military-style assault weapon. She was killed in her classroom just a week before her 17th birthday.

It's difficult to put into words how painful the aftermath of the massacre was for me and my family. I remember the overwhelming emptiness — and how sometimes I struggled to do more than just break down and sob. A tragedy like this should never have happened, but after decades of lawmakers backing down to the gun lobby and choosing profits over people’s lives, what happened to Carmen has become far too common in our country. But it doesn’t have to be the norm, and all of us have a responsibility to fight to stop another family from losing someone to the gun violence epidemic.

That's why I've dedicated my life to working with organizations like Brady to pass gun safety reforms, defeat the gun lobby, and stop gun violence, like the mass shooting that happened in Parkland. To honor the victims and survivors of Parkland, I'm working with Brady's youth-led initiative Team ENOUGH on a week of action — and today, I'm asking you to join us. Please, will you help me honor six years since Parkland by calling on Congress to finally end school shootings in Brady's new survey? We're counting on 6,000 responses before midnight tonight to show a united force for change.

Should Congress ban assault weapons?

If I'm being honest, this isn't the sort of path I would have chosen for myself. Activism. Testifying in front of lawmakers. Telling my story again and again and again. 

But I've found a new sense of purpose in this movement — and I've been inspired by so many others along the way. I watched as families all across our country took to the streets to call for an end to gun violence. The March for Our Lives marked a turning point. Even though change wasn't won on that day, it sparked a movement that has become unstoppable.

I know that telling my sister's story has power. But that power only matters when people like you hear her story and make the choice to get off the sidelines, head to a protest, cast your ballot, make a donation, or raise your voice for change.

Hope starts small, John. But it spreads quickly. What we do today can change the tide for millions of Americans across the country. So please, I'm asking one final time: Will you raise your voice for change by responding to Brady's survey before midnight tonight?

Should Congress ban assault weapons?

Thank you for hearing Carmen's story and honoring her memory. I am so grateful for all that you do.

Robert Schentrup
Carmen's brother
Gun Violence Survivor