John,
When a 14-year-old walked into Apalachee High School with an AR-15 rifle, four lives were stolen in an instant:
- Mason Schermerhorn, 14, a lighthearted freshman who loved video games and visits to Disney World.
- Christian Angulo, 14, a sweet, caring freshman remembered deeply by his family.
- Richard Aspinwall, 39, a dedicated math teacher, coach, and father of two young daughters.
- Cristina Irimie, 53, a patient and beloved math teacher.
Nine others were wounded. Countless lives were altered forever.
This year, a judge sentenced the shooter’s father to 15 years in prison after a jury convicted him of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. He bought his minor son an assault weapon for Christmas, ignored clear warning signs, and left the firearm unsecured.
This verdict sets a vital precedent for accountability. But justice in a courtroom cannot bring back Mason, Christian, Richard, or Cristina.
The truth is, this heartbreak was entirely preventable.
At March For Our Lives, we refuse to accept school shootings as an unavoidable reality of American life. As a youth-led movement, we are organizing across the country to shift the culture, pass life-saving secure storage laws, and hold both negligent gun owners and weak lawmakers accountable.
Real change doesn't happen on its own — it takes young people rising up, speaking truth to power, and demanding a future free from gun violence.
If you are ready to help us build a safer future, will you chip in today to power our grassroots advocacy work?
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Together, we can honor the memories of those we’ve lost not just with words, but with action.
— March For Our Lives
