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This Mother’s Day, Let’s Keep Our Kids Safe
Mother’s Day has taken on a whole new meaning for me. Once filled with joy, it now stands as a stark reminder of the loss I carry. Two years ago, I lost my son, Max. The last gift he gave me was a beautiful watercolor painting of a flower, which now sits beside his picture on my nightstand.
In its origins, Mother’s Day was a day of remembrance for mothers who had lost children to war, urging us to strive for peace and safety. Ironically, today, more mothers mourn children lost to gun violence than to warfare. In the United States, seven kids are killed by guns every single day.
Max was a bright light in my life—a loving and compassionate kid. At just 13, he was tragically shot when a classmate accidentally fired a loaded shotgun brought out by another boy. The grief from that day is something no parent should endure.
I was invited to participate in a documentary called Making a Killing: Guns, Greed and the NRA, and despite the pain it stirred up, I knew I had to share Max’s story. If my experience could potentially save another child’s life, it was worth it. Watching the film with my family brought back those haunting memories—seeing Max’s belongings and the scene of his final moments made it clear how deeply rooted the problem of gun violence is in our society. The same year Max was taken from us, a single gun manufacturer made an astounding $201 million, which breaks down to over $80,000 for every child killed by guns in 2014.
Shockingly, nearly twice a week, a child accidentally dies from a gunshot, often at the hands of another child. This issue has even made its way into mainstream media, with accidental shootings featured in popular shows like Grey’s Anatomy.
One would think it’s common sense to securely store firearms away from curious hands, yet in many states, including where I live in Washington, it’s still legal to leave firearms accessible to children. Approximately 1.7 million kids live in homes with loaded and unlocked guns.
Earlier this year in Tennessee, a 3-year-old tragically lost his life due to an accidental shooting while lawmakers postponed a vote on a bill aimed at enforcing safe storage of firearms. This bill faced significant opposition from the NRA and ultimately failed. Just a year before Max’s death, a similar storage law was also rejected in Washington.
This Mother’s Day, as we celebrate mothers and those aspiring to be moms, I urge you to advocate for our children’s safety. I did all the usual things to keep Max safe. I monitored his activities, didn’t allow unsupervised gatherings, and we talked about the dangers of guns. However, what I regret not doing is asking the parents of his friends about gun access in their homes. A simple question—”Is there an unlocked gun in your house?”—could have made a world of difference.
But don’t stop there! Reach out to your senators, congresspeople, and state representatives. Encourage them to watch Making a Killing, challenge the NRA, and take steps to protect our kids. Ask them why they prioritize the NRA over the lives of our children and why they don’t support investments in smart gun technology that ensures firearms can only be used by their owners.
Due to their inaction, I faced the heartbreaking task of planning my son’s funeral. Max was a wonderful boy who loved spending time with his big brother, Alex, their dog, Buddy, and playing video games.
Mother’s Day will never feel the same without him.
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Summary
This Mother’s Day, let’s focus on the safety of our children by advocating for better gun storage laws and raising awareness about gun violence. Sharing personal stories can make a difference, and it’s crucial we hold our leaders accountable to protect our kids.