Mother’s Day has transformed into a poignant reminder of loss for many, including myself. What once brought joy, such as receiving heartfelt cards and flowers, now casts a shadow over my heart. Two years have passed since the tragic loss of my son, Jason, who was only thirteen when he died from a gunshot wound. The last gift I received from him was a delicate painting of a flower, now resting beside his photo on my nightstand.
Traditionally, Mother’s Day was a time to honor mothers who had experienced the heartbreak of losing children to war, promoting peace and safety. Sadly, today, mothers are facing a different crisis. More children are losing their lives to gun violence than to conflicts abroad; in fact, seven children are killed by guns every single day in the U.S.
Jason had an enormous heart; he was compassionate and full of life. His death came after a tragic accident involving a classmate who found an unsecured shotgun. This heartbreaking reality pushed me to participate in a documentary titled Making a Killing: Guns, Greed, and the NRA. Even though it meant revisiting painful memories, I felt compelled to share Jason’s story in hopes of preventing further tragedies.
Watching the film with my family was gut-wrenching. I saw remnants of my son’s life—the blood on the floor, his beloved sock, and his favorite basketball shirt. It struck me how greed has perpetuated the cycle of violence in our society. The same year Jason lost his life, one gun manufacturer alone made over $201 million, which translates to more than $80,000 for every child shot and killed that year.
Accidental shootings involving children occur almost twice a week, often involving another child. Such incidents have even made their way into mainstream television, featured on shows like Grey’s Anatomy. It seems like common sense to safely secure firearms, yet it remains legal in many states, including my own, to leave guns within a child’s reach. Approximately 1.7 million children in the U.S. live in homes where guns are loaded and unlocked.
Earlier this year in Tennessee, a heartbreaking incident occurred when a 3-year-old was fatally shot while lawmakers delayed voting on a bill that would mandate safe storage of firearms. This proposed legislation faced strong opposition from the NRA and ultimately failed. In Washington State, a similar bill was defeated the year prior to Jason’s death, despite the fact that his shooter accessed a gun that was not stored safely.
As we celebrate Mother’s Day, I urge you to advocate for the safety of our children. Like many mothers, I took every precaution to protect my son. I didn’t allow him to attend unsupervised gatherings, I checked in regularly, and I talked to him about the dangers of guns. However, one crucial question I never asked was whether his friends’ parents had firearms in their homes. A simple inquiry—“Is there an unlocked gun in your house?”—could save a child’s life.
Don’t stop there. Reach out to your senators and representatives, urging them to watch Making a Killing, challenge the NRA, and take action to ensure our children’s safety. Advocate for investments in smart gun technology that would make firearms usable only by their owners.
Due to the inaction of our lawmakers, I was left with the sorrowful task of planning my son’s funeral. Jason was a wonderful boy, full of love, and his absence makes Mother’s Day unbearably painful.
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In summary, let us honor the spirit of Mother’s Day by advocating for the safety of our children through responsible gun ownership and legislative action.