Mother’s Day has taken on a different meaning for me. Once filled with joy, it now serves as a poignant reminder of my loss. Two years have passed since my son’s tragic death, and the beautiful cards and flowers from him are memories I hold dear. The last present I received was a heartfelt watercolor painting of a flower, which now rests by my bedside, alongside his cherished photo.
While many celebrate Mother’s Day with brunches and bouquets, it’s worth noting that the day originally honored mothers who had lost children to war, urging them to advocate for peace and safety. Today, however, more mothers endure the pain of losing their children to gun violence than to conflict. In fact, seven children die from gun-related incidents every day in the United States.
My son, Jake, was a kind-hearted boy who loved life. He was just 13 when a classmate accidentally shot him with an unsecured, loaded shotgun. The pain of that day is something no parent should ever have to endure.
When I was invited to participate in the documentary, Making a Killing: Guns, Greed and the NRA, I felt compelled to share my story, despite the emotional toll. If my experience could help prevent another tragedy, it was worth it. Watching the film with my family—seeing the remnants of that fateful day—made it clear how rampant gun violence is driven by greed. In the same year my son lost his life, one gun manufacturer grossed $201 million—enough to account for over $80,000 for every child killed by guns in 2014.
Tragically, almost twice a week, a child is unintentionally shot and killed, often by another child. Such incidents have even made their way to primetime television, highlighting the alarming prevalence of accidental shootings.
It seems like common sense to safely store firearms away from curious hands, yet it remains legal in many states, including my home state of Washington, to leave guns accessible to children. There are 1.7 million children in America living in homes with unlocked and loaded firearms.
Earlier this year, a 3-year-old boy in Tennessee lost his life to an accidental shooting while lawmakers delayed voting on a bill that would mandate safe firearm storage. This bill faced staunch opposition from the NRA and ultimately failed. Just a year before my son’s death, a similar storage law in Washington was also defeated.
As we celebrate Mother’s Day, I urge you to stand up for our children. Like any caring mom, I took precautions to keep Jake safe. I was vigilant about where he went and discussed gun safety with him, but I never asked the parents of his friends whether they had guns at home. A single question—”Is there an unlocked gun in your house?”—could save a life.
Don’t stop there; advocate for change. Encourage your senators, congresspersons, and state representatives to watch Making a Killing and to challenge the NRA on behalf of our children. Ask them why they prioritize lobbyists over the safety of our kids and why they resist investing in smart gun technology that could make firearms safer.
Because of their inaction and the failure to enforce safe storage, I faced the heartbreaking reality of arranging my son’s funeral. Jake was a wonderful boy who enjoyed gaming, playing with his dog, and spending time with his brother, Alex.
This Mother’s Day will forever hold a somber weight without him.
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In summary, as we honor mothers this Mother’s Day, let’s commit to protecting our children by advocating for safer gun practices and policies.