John,
I was in Washington D.C. on this day nine years ago when 20 small children and six educators were shot and killed at Sandy Hook School—but my family and my community were back in Newtown, Connecticut.
That day changed the course of my life, and it's why I've been working for years with Everytown and Moms Demand Action to end gun violence. I truly believe we can end gun violence in our communities, but only if every one of us shows up to make the change we need.
John, that's why today, I'm reflecting and renewing my resolve to work for a future free from gun violence: Take the pledge to recommit to our movement in the coming year.
It's infuriating to me that in the nine years since the shooting at Sandy Hook School, gun violence is now a greater threat than ever to our students and educators. Between August 1 and October 31 of this year, at least 89 instances of gunfire occurred on school grounds, killing 15 and wounding 63—the most instances and people shot on school grounds in this period since Everytown began tracking in 2013.
I don't take my commitment to this movement lightly. I will continue to show up to this fight each and every day. The shooting at Oxford High School just two weeks ago was a heartbreaking reminder that we must urgently do more to protect our communities from the growing threat of gun violence.
Thank you for everything you do,
Kara Fitzgerald
Field Director of Federal and Distributed Organizing
Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
