John–

In July 1993, my brother, Sean, was shot and killed in Takoma Park, Maryland. More than just my brother, he was a son, a husband, a father, and a friend. He was fearless, and loved going to amusement parks; we could spend hours riding roller coasters, and imagining how we would design our own rides.

In the 27 years since he was shot and killed in a senseless act of gun violence, there has been no closure for my family. No thorough investigation. No trial. No sentencing. No accountability.

His murder remains an unsolved crime, and I, like too many others across the country, carry the emotional burden of not knowing who or why.

During National Crime Victims' Rights Week, we come together to share our stories, celebrate our loved ones, and organize our momentum to enact legislative changes that will make our communities safer and support the families that are forever changed by gun violence.

In the United States, many homicides go unsolved: nearly 40 percent of homicides were unsolved in 2019. This crisis is particularly true for gun crimes committed against Black and Latinx people. The result is that thousands of Americans do not have their day in court, and see zero accountability. For survivors of gun violence, we must help raise awareness about this pervasive problem.

Read and share our new report—"Hurdles to Healing"—to learn more about what our government can do to support victims and survivors of gun violence.

The emotional and physical tolls endured by victims and survivors of gun violence are devastating. Our government systems must not only respond to the investigatory and accountability demands of survivors, but also ensure that survivors have the resources they need to heal and thrive following an incident of gun violence.

This Crime Victims' Rights Week, help call attention to what our government can do to give survivors of gun violence like me the support they need. Read and share our new report on victim compensation and its importance to the gun violence prevention movement.

Thank you for being a part of this movement, and thank you for helping me honor Sean and the survivors of gun violence across the country.

Keenon M. James
Director
Everytown Survivor Network

P.S. Are you a survivor of gun violence? Share your story today at Moments That Survive.