John,

My name is Christian Heyne, Vice President of Policy at Brady. For almost two decades, I’ve fought for common sense gun violence solutions – but it’s not work that I came to willingly. My mom was killed in 2005, when a gunman shot and killed her. My dad thankfully survived.

I reflect on the events of that day frequently, but after years of working in this movement, I have realized that the only truly remarkable part of my story is how unremarkable it actually is. Far too many families have experienced pain and trauma from losing a loved one to gun violence – and what hurts more is how many people we could’ve saved if our lawmakers took commonsense, lifesaving action.

That’s why I sat in front of the House Judiciary Committee yesterday and shared my story alongside other gun violence survivors, asking lawmakers to fight for the change that we so desperately need. This hearing comes in the wake of the horrific mass murder that took place in Uvalde, TX, when 19 children and two educators were killed with an assault weapon in yet another devastating attack on a school. It comes a decade after the shooting at Sandy Hook where 20 children and 6 educators were murdered with a similar weapon. And after other tragedies in between the two: Parkland, Las Vegas, Buffalo, and in my hometown of Thousand Oaks. 

There is one deadly link between the deadliest mass shootings in our country and it’s the weapon that the shooter chose to use: An assault weapon. And more tragedy is inevitable unless our lawmakers finally take action: Will you join me in demanding change from our lawmakers and urging them to ban assault weapons?

AI’ll be honest with you, [firstname], it is traumatizing to relive my trauma over and over – but I keep showing up so others don’t have to know this reality. Brady fights every day to make sure no family feels the pain and loss that gun violence survivors do. Because the cost of gun violence due to congressional inaction is not hypothetical: More than 45,000 individuals were killed by guns in 2020 and twice as many individuals live with injuries from being shot. For the first time in history, firearms are the leading cause of death for children in the U.S. 

And then there are the memories that so many have lost the opportunity to make: I think about my wedding day, when there was an empty chair that my Mom should have been in. All the times I’ve wanted to pick up the phone to tell her a story or hear her laugh. And now, during the holiday season when families come together, far too many will feel the absence of a loved one.

Lawmakers have the power to prevent others from knowing this pain and trauma – future generations depend on it. So I’m asking you to speak out with me and other survivors of gun violence today: Will you join me in demanding change from our lawmakers and urge them to ban assault weapons?

Thank you.

Christian Heyne

Gun Violence Survivor

Vice President of Policy