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Shootings like the one that killed my brother are the ones that make the headlines. But it is the daily toll of community violence, which devastates BIPOC communities, and the nearly silent epidemic of suicide by firearm, which accounts for nearly two-thirds of all gun deaths, that ravage our country. And we know now that the pandemic has done nothing to slow the spread of the epidemic of gun violence.
Twenty-five years later I still have moments—hours, even full days—when I am haunted by the trauma and terror my brother and his classmates endured. I am also haunted by the continued impact that trauma has had on so many lives. But what truly haunts me is the refusal of our federal government to act on commonsense gun laws that will decrease the carnage and save lives in the communities they have taken an oath to serve.
I am fortunate that I am able to channel my grief into action by leading the Alliance for Gun Responsibility. With your help, we will keep working tirelessly to hold our federal elected officials accountable.
As I remember Arnie today, I will do so with sorrow and hope, but also with a dedication to demand action with every breath I have left.
Renée (she/her)
P.S. If you’d like to honor Arnie’s memory, you can support our work to prevent gun violence in all of its forms here.
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