John, I wanted to give you an update: Since Liz's email yesterday, thousands of grassroots supporters like you have signed our Mother's Day petition demanding real action against gun violence. But we're still about 3,000 behind our goal — and this goal is too important for us to fall short. 

I was so moved by Liz's message because we have something awful in common: Both of our mothers were shot and murdered. I never would have imagined that I could share this horrific experience with anyone. I thought gun violence just "didn't happen" in communities like mine. Until it did. 

When my mother was killed — and my father shot multiple times — I learned the hardest way possible that I wasn't safe from gun violence. No community is. Not yet.

But today, I'm focusing on that "yet." I'm focusing on the mothers and children we can spare from the pain and trauma that Liz and I know all too well. I'm focusing on the power we have to honor all the mothers and other loved ones killed by gun violence — by seizing this historic moment in a new administration, and demanding Congress take action to prevent gun violence by passing common-sense bipartisan reforms. But we're not going to get there without you. Please, before our midnight deadline, will you sign our petition demanding action from Congress to prevent gun violence and save lives?

When my parents were shot, I remember feeling numb. It all seemed so impossible. But now, the survivors who lead the work here at Brady are turning our pain into purpose and making sure no other families ever experience what we have. 

So this Mother's Day, while it's hard for me, I'm resolved in reaching out to everyone we can, and determined to not let the momentum we've built slip away. That's why your help is so critical. With gun violence prevention champions in Congress and the White House, we've never been closer to real change. But we're going to need every member of this grassroots team to raise their voice now:

John, I'm counting on you: Will you add your name now, before our midnight deadline, to demand Congress take action to prevent gun violence?

Thank you for believing we still have the power to make change, if we just rise up together and demand it. It means so much, especially today.

Christian Heyne
Gun Violence Survivor & Vice President of Policy