Fellow Advocate,

When you think of Friday night lights, what comes to mind? For me, it’s a chill in the air, the smell of grass, and the thrill of a high school football game. Certainly, it doesn’t conjure up images of horrific gun violence. But for our newest Deadly by Design storyteller, it does.

Meredith Elizalde lost her only son, Nick, on September 27, 2022, when shots rang out at a scrimmage game at Roxborough High School in Philadelphia. He was struck by a stray bullet fired by a man on house arrest who was prohibited from buying firearms, but was able to acquire ammunition due to a massive gap in our safety system. Nick died on the football field, in Meredith’s arms. 

Meredith said, “I have the ultimate privilege of being with him as he came into this world and holding him as he exited it.” But her privilege is Pennsylvania’s shame. 

If we had a law on the books requiring background checks for ammunition as well as firearms, Nick’s murder could have been prevented. Will you watch Meredith’s powerful story and share it with your lawmakers, urging them to pass legislation mandating background checks to purchase bullets, to help prevent the next murder?

Nick was a charming, kind, and patient teenager – the cornerback of his high school football team. He was brimming with potential – potential that was stolen from him, and our community, on that September night.

But Meredith bears little anger toward her son’s killer. She rightfully directs her grief, and her rage, at the lawmakers who did nothing to stop yet another American tragedy from unfolding at Roxborough High School.

I implore you to watch Meredith’s testimony here, and share it with your your State Representative and Senator Nikil Saval with a message demanding they close this deadly loophole, immediately. Take courage from Meredith, and stand up for the right of all Pennsylvanians to live, learn, and play in safety. 

Standing with you,

Josh Fleitman
Campaign Director
CeaseFirePA