Content Notice: This email contains firsthand accounts of gun violence, domestic violence, and firearm suicide.
If you or someone you know is in a time of emotional crisis or needs to talk to someone, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or text HOME to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line for free from anywhere in the US.
John–
On Monday, I had the honor of joining fellow survivors and advocates at the White House to celebrate a huge victory. After years of our movement raising the alarm, President Joe Biden took action to stop the spread of ghost guns—the kind of gun that almost ended my life.
But if the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is going to have the leadership necessary to fully enforce laws and regulations like the one finalized Monday, the U.S. Senate must confirm President Biden's nominee for its next director. Former U.S. Attorney Steve Dettelbach can give the ATF the leadership and direction it needs to keep our communities safe from gun violence.
Join me in taking the next step: Tell your U.S. senators to confirm Steve Dettelbach as director of the ATF.
I know from personal experience why it's so important to have strong, fully-enforced gun laws and regulations.
When I was 17 years old, a guy I was dating became very controlling. He told me he had a gun and threatened me.
Things took a darker turn when we decided to meet in person.
He had the gun when we met. He struck me and left me unconscious. It wasn't until later that I found out it was a ghost gun he had purchased and assembled.
Shortly after I was attacked, I attempted suicide with a firearm I found loaded and unsecured at a friend's house.
I survived, and these events changed my life forever.
As I sat in the audience on Monday, as someone who survived gun violence in several ways, I knew all too well the pain of fellow survivor Mia Tretta when she shared her story with us at the White House.
I also could not agree more with what she said: "Nothing has relieved the pain in my heart like working to prevent senseless shootings." Help our movement take the next step: Urge your U.S. senators to confirm Steve Dettelbach as ATF director.
I am here today, as a survivor in so many ways. It's this work that keeps me and so many survivors going.
So while we celebrate Monday's victory, we must keep up the momentum to make sure we end gun violence in this country, once and for all.
Thank you for taking action, and thank you for taking the time to read my story.
Zachary Mallory
They/them/theirs
2022 Survivor Fellow
Everytown Survivor Network
