John, 

On October 1, 2017, I put on my cowboy boots and went to the Route 91 country music festival in Las Vegas. Those boots would carry me as I ran for my life that night.

Yesterday marked four years since 58 people were shot and killed in Las Vegas — the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history. Today, I am wearing my cowboy boots to honor those who will not have the opportunity to wear a pair again. 

My name is Heather Sallan. I am the co-president of Brady Nevada and a gun violence survivor. I put on my cowboy boots when I am asked to be a voice against senseless violence — because these boots are part of the story of the most horrific night of my life.

On October 1, 2017, Heather was selling boot covers and leather products out of her booth at the Route 91 Harvest Festival.

No one attending a concert should know how to describe the whistle sound of a bullet so close to their left ear that their hair moves. But I can. The gunman used an assault weapon with a bump stock and killed 58 people. More than 850 were injured from the shooting or the ensuing chaos.

The day I woke up after that shooting, I realized I couldn’t just sit around hoping someone else will make a change. I had to do my part. I decided to start a Brady chapter in my city. Since then, in Nevada alone, we’ve helped expand background checks, enact an extreme risk law, pass a safe storage law, and ban bump stocks. But we still have so much work to do on the federal level, like banning the assault-style weapons that nearly ended my life.

Today, I’m personally asking you to join me in creating that change in Congress. Please, will you sign Brady's petition to demand Congress ban assault weapons?

For me, October 1 is a reminder that even on the hardest days, we can each have the courage to put on our boots and get to work. Thank you for supporting Brady.

We need you in this important fight.

Sincerely,

Heather Sallan

1 October Survivor

Brady Nevada Co-President

ICYMI: We Launched “Service Never Stops” to Address Gun Suicide

Last week, our End Fire Fire program launched “Service Never Stops,” a campaign to encourage the veteran community to store their firearms securely to protect themselves and their loved ones. Our campaign features four veterans who share their personal experiences about how safe gun storage can reduce the gun suicide crisis in America. In case you missed it, John, will you watch and share our video right now?

URGENT: Tell Congress to Support the Build Back Better Act. It Includes $5 Billion for Community Violence Intervention (CVI) Programs! 

For too long, gun violence has had an outsized impact on Black and Brown communities in America. But right now, Congress can address the disproportionate bloodshed with a landmark investment in our communities. Part of President Biden’s Build Back Better Act includes $5 billion for community violence intervention (CVI) programs. 

This historic investment would allow trusted, on-the-ground community leaders and organizations to provide social services — like mental health counseling, GED tutoring, housing support, and more — to address the root causes of gun violence. 

Friend, will you tell your representatives in Congress to support the Build Back Better Act? It’s been a BUSY week in Congress, so make your voice heard right now to have the greatest impact. 

Once you’ve signed our petition, watch our virtual event on CVI funding with the Black and Brown leaders that have made it possible. 

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. About every 16 hours in America, a woman is shot and killed by a former or current partner. Congress let the Violence Against Women Act expire over 2 years ago. Since it expired, the lives and safety of victims of domestic violence have been on the line. We must reauthorize VAWA to keep guns out of the hands of abusers. Please share our graphic on Facebook to build support for VAWA. 

“The legend of Wendi Winters will never die.”

— Summerleigh Winters Geimer, Brady’s gun violence prevention hero of the week.

Summerleigh and her mother, Wendi Winters

Last week on “Red, Blue, and Brady,” we spoke with Summerleigh Winters Geimer. Her mother, journalist Wendi Winters, was one of the five victims of the 2018 Capital Gazette shooting. After the murder of her mother, Summerleigh became a dedicated advocate for change: She uses her platform on social media to talk about being a survivor, the court trial against the gunman, and how to deal with grief.

This week, just days after Summerleigh shared her story with us, she — and the other families torn apart by this tragedy — found justice when the gunman was sentenced to life in prison for the attack.

We’re proud to recognize Summerleigh as this week’s gun violence prevention hero of the week — not only for sharing her story with us but for her courageous dedication on behalf of her mother and the victims of the Capital Gazette shooting. We at Brady know that if we are to end gun violence, it must be alongside survivors like Summerleigh. To learn more about Summerleigh and her journey to justice, please listen to our podcast episode: “Showing Up for Wendi Winters.”

Brady
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