Do you remember the moment you learned about the Columbine shooting, John? I do. I was at home with my 5-year-old daughter, whom I had just picked up from kindergarten. I saw the images of traumatized children streaming out of their school, some badly wounded, looking lost and terrified. I cried with them and for them.

I knew at that moment that how we responded to this horrific tragedy would be forever judged by our nation’s youth. What we did would either make the world safer for my daughter and others, or usher in a new era of unpredictable violence in America.

So, how did we as a country ensure her safety and the safety of future generations? We did absolutely nothing. We failed our children abysmally. 

Congress could have taken action immediately to prevent countless more mass shootings and save many innocent lives. But school shootings continue to plague our country, and now Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook, Parkland, and Santa Fe have joined the ranks of Columbine.

That’s why, on the anniversary of the Columbine shooting, we’re asking you to honor the victims of gun violence by signing our petition and demanding Congress take action to prevent future school shootings.

There have been thousands of school shootings that have destroyed the lives of far too many families and the innocence of our youth. Each school shooting leaves new victims and survivors and forces thousands across this country to live their lives forever changed.

Here’s the cold reality: This inaction on gun violence is not a reflection of our country. The majority of Americans support Brady in our fight to prevent gun violence and save lives. This inaction is because politicians like Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump would rather serve the NRA and put their profits ahead of the people they were elected to protect. We said it in 1999, and we’ll say it again today: Enough is enough.

This year, we have the unique opportunity to atone for the NRA and Congress’ deadly inaction by honoring victims, their families, and the communities that have been devastated by school shootings:

John, we can prevent future generations from carrying the trauma of school shootings – but we need you fighting with us today so that another 21 years don’t go by without progress: Please, will you honor victims before our midnight deadline and sign our petition to demand Congress prevent school shootings?

One day, school shootings will be a thing of the past, John. To do that, we need you to raise your voice today to make it happen.

Thanks for honoring the victims of gun violence with action.

Cordy Galligan
Vice President, Communications
Brady