John,

The last time I talked to my dad, he told me how much my daughter, Chelsea, reminded him of his mother—and that he wanted Chelsea to inherit Granny's pearl necklace when he died.

A few days later I got the middle-of-the-night phone call that nobody wants. My brother had arrived home to find our dad dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Life changed in that moment for my family and the ripples of impact continue many years later.

John, my story is far from unique. But far too often, suicide by firearm is overlooked in discussions of gun violence.

That's why this year, I'll be coming together with people from across the country for National Gun Violence Awareness Day and Wear Orange Weekend. During the first weekend in June, we'll be wearing orange to honor those taken or forever changed by gun violence and to demand the kind of action that we know can help save lives.

Find an event near you and RSVP to join us for Wear Orange Weekend, June 4-6.

Every year for the last several years, I've joined with members of this movement to commemorate Wear Orange Weekend. I've been able to share my family's story and connect with other people impacted by firearm suicide. I have found a community of people who know that we must break the patterns of gun violence in our community and our country.

Find a Wear Orange event near you and RSVP to join us for Wear Orange Weekend.

And one more thing: Because of this movement, my story doesn't stop with my dad. My daughter, Rachel, struggled with issues of self-worth as a teenager. But because guns are safely stored in my home, she was able to change her mind before she died by suicide and got medical help that saved her life. Now, 16 years later, she is alive and thriving. My experience shows how building awareness around gun safety and gun violence prevention can make a difference.

Thank you for being a part of this movement, and I hope you'll Wear Orange with us June 4-6.

Yvonne Murray
Wear Orange