Dear parents of the 58,
On that fateful Monday morning, I awoke to the dreadful news of a mass shooting at a music festival in Las Vegas, resulting in the loss of 58 lives and injuring over 500. A chilling sense of déjà vu washed over me, as I knew how your lives would irrevocably change from that moment onward.
Just 492 days prior, I received similar news of a shooting at a nightclub in Orlando. At that time, it was the worst mass shooting in modern American history. It took an agonizing 24 hours for me to learn that my beloved 31-year-old son, David Miller, was among the 49 who perished that night. I would never again hear his laughter, feel his comforting embrace, or share the unique bond we had cherished. His life was brutally taken by someone filled with hatred, who had unfettered access to a weapon.
People often approach me, saying, “I can’t even imagine…” They will say the same to you. While I recognize their inability to truly understand, I wish they could grasp the depth of our sorrow. If everyone could fully comprehend the anguish of losing a child to gun violence, the conversations around prevention would already be at the forefront. We would have found the resolve to enact the necessary changes to protect our communities.
My heart aches for those who are just beginning this harrowing journey—the injured who must rebuild their lives, the traumatized who cannot erase the haunting memories of that night, and you, the loved ones left to navigate this unbearable pain. I find myself asking yet again, when will it be enough? How many lives must we sacrifice, and how many souls must suffer before we muster the courage to implement policy reforms that could avert such tragedies?
Are we truly willing to accept the notion that attending a concert, going to the movies, or simply visiting a store could end in violence? This reality is not normal, and it doesn’t have to be our future!
The gun homicide rate in our nation is 25 times higher than that of other developed countries. This epidemic is distinctly American. While the recent shooting is a profound tragedy, it is accompanied by the daily occurrences of gun violence that we have grown increasingly desensitized to. Only in our country do we regularly encounter the phrase “yet another mass shooting.” Thoughts and prayers are insufficient; they fail to honor the lives we have lost and will continue to lose unless we demand an end to this violence.
Too many leaders claim now is the time for mourning, not for discussing policy. I argue that it is far too late for that. I’ve been mourning since Columbine, Aurora, Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook, San Bernardino, and especially since Orlando. Now, I mourn alongside those of you who have lost friends, children, partners, siblings, or parents in the tragedy of that Sunday night. We cannot afford to delay any longer. We have already lost too many cherished lives like my son’s. As those of us who are part of this grieving community know too well, one life lost is simply too many!
This is a critical moment for change. For years, the gun lobby and their allies in Congress have pushed an agenda that promotes “guns everywhere.” Recently, they attempted to weaken laws governing the use and purchase of silencers. The chaos in Las Vegas escalated because people could hear the gunshots. Imagine the toll if those attending the concert and first responders had been unable to discern where the shots were coming from!
Furthermore, the gun lobby is advocating for “concealed carry reciprocity”—a dangerous law that would dismantle state gun regulations, forcing one state to accept the concealed carry standards of another, even if those standards are nonexistent, as in states like Idaho and Arizona.
Sadly, many of our leaders prioritize the profits of gun manufacturers over our safety, bowing to the pressures from the gun lobby. It is time to demand that they prioritize our well-being and the safety of our communities. To the parents of the 58, I stand in solidarity with you. I understand your pain and heartbreak. Millions of us across the nation are here to support you as you honor your children’s lives.
To join the movement against gun violence and reject the gun lobby’s perilous agenda, please consider exploring resources such as this excellent guide on pregnancy and home insemination, or check out this informative post that touches on similar themes. Together, we must demand courage and conviction from our elected officials. Now is the time to take action.
Summary
This heartfelt message addresses the parents of the victims of the Las Vegas shooting, drawing parallels to the author’s own experience of losing her son in the Orlando shooting. The piece calls for urgent policy changes to combat gun violence, urging society to confront the normalization of such tragedies and to support one another in the fight for safer communities.