John, I want to introduce myself: I’m Kate Ranta and I’m a survivor of gun violence and intimate partner abuse.

Every 16 hours in America, a woman is shot and killed by a current or former dating partner. But for years, gun lobby puppets in Congress have refused to pass legislation that would protect victims and survivors of domestic abuse.

But now, we have a real chance to finally pass the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021 (VAWA) to close the deadly "boyfriend loophole" to help keep guns OUT of the hands of convicted domestic abusers and stalkers.

I know firsthand just how much this measure is needed. Almost seven years ago, my ex-husband ambushed me at my apartment door and shot me twice in front of our four-year-old son. I suffer from PTSD — and so does my son. The triggers and the flashbacks are debilitating.

But to know that there’s legislation that would protect others from what I went through inspires me to keep going. We cannot allow our politicians to cave to the pressure from the corporate gun lobby any longer. Please, will you send a message to Congress right now and demand that they reauthorize VAWA?

Since I was shot in 2012, I’ve vowed to share my story with the world to DEMAND an end to gun violence and to remind every survivor that they are not alone.

That’s why I’m joining Brady in demanding our lawmakers pass this bill and listen to the voices of survivors. I’m doing this on behalf of every survivor and those who ares at risk of experiencing what I — and thousands of others like me — have been through.

I need you to fight with me today, John. Can you send a message to Congress right now and urge them to reauthorize VAWA and save countless lives from gun violence?

It’s time to do the right thing.

Kate Ranta
Gun Violence Survivor