From the moment he reached middle school, my son Jaden had a unique style that lit up every room. His vibrant energy was infectious, and he often dressed in bold colors, topped off with a perfectly coordinated bowtie. Just days before he was tragically killed in an accidental shooting by a friend who discovered a loaded gun in a dresser, he had proudly added a new blue and yellow bowtie to his collection.
To me, Jaden was my little bloom. As he transitioned into his teenage years, I affectionately called him “bud.” The last time we spoke, he shared his plans to catch a movie with his grandmother during spring break. I told him I loved him, and he replied, “I love you too, Mom.” That was the last time I heard his voice—a bullet would take him away from me far too soon.
At just 14 years old, Jaden was taken from us before he even had the chance to master tying his bowtie. When I arrived at the hospital after a long drive, I was met by family, who delivered the heart-wrenching words no mother should ever hear: “He did not make it.” I didn’t get to say goodbye. In that moment, I felt as though a part of me vanished. The sorrow was overwhelming, and the pain of losing a child is indescribable. Knowing that Jaden’s death could have been prevented only deepens that wound.
The thought of other mothers enduring this unimaginable grief haunts me. Currently, there are an estimated 4.6 million children in the U.S. living in homes with unsecured firearms, and many of these kids know exactly where those guns are kept. The gun that claimed my son’s life was carelessly hidden beneath a t-shirt in a dresser drawer, fully loaded and unlocked.
With gun sales surging during the COVID-19 pandemic—3.7 million background checks in a single month, a record high—my fears grow even more acute. Many parents are preoccupied with work-from-home obligations, leaving curious children susceptible to discovering unsecured firearms. This is a reality I know all too painfully.
Even in “normal” times, about 350 children and teens accidentally shoot themselves or others each year due to unsecured guns, with over three-quarters of those incidents occurring in the home. Gun suicides take the lives of more than 600 young Americans annually, with a staggering 80% of the weapons involved belonging to family members. It’s essential for adults to safely store guns—locked and unloaded, away from ammunition—to prevent senseless tragedies. Proper storage can literally mean the difference between life and death.
Amidst the panic surrounding COVID-19, it’s alarming that people are stockpiling guns and ammunition alongside essentials like toilet paper. This could lead to devastating outcomes if children gain access to unsecured firearms. That’s why I’ve turned my grief into advocacy, joining thousands of others in the Moms Demand Action movement. We’re committed to educating parents about secure gun storage through local Be SMART campaigns, impacting over 1 million families in the past five years. With kids at home more than ever, the urgency for secure storage has never been greater. We’re even launching a new public service announcement aimed at new gun owners.
As my family knows all too well, one bullet can shatter countless lives. The trajectory of our lives changed forever the day we lost Jaden. I strive to remain strong for my older son, but not a moment passes without thoughts of Jaden and the future he will never have. Every spring, as nature blossoms anew, I’m reminded of the milestones he will miss—graduation, prom, college applications—moments that will never come to be. If I can spare even one family from this kind of heartache by speaking out, then I feel it’s my duty to do so. I will continue to raise my voice until every child in America can grow up free from the threat of gun violence.
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In summary, the surge in gun sales and the prevalence of unsecured firearms threaten the safety of our children. We must prioritize secure storage and educate others about the importance of preventing unintentional shootings. My mission is to ensure that no other family has to endure the pain that mine has faced.
Keyphrase: unintentional shootings prevention
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