Dear parents of the 58,
On a recent Monday morning, I woke to gut-wrenching news about a shooting at a music festival in Las Vegas, which claimed 58 lives and left over 500 injured. Chills ran down my spine as a familiar, dreadful feeling washed over me. I knew too well how your world would forever be altered.
Just a mere 492 days prior, I had received similar devastating news of a shooting in Orlando, at a nightclub. Until Sunday, it was the most horrific mass shooting in recent U.S. history. It took over 24 hours to learn that my cherished son, Alex Thompson, was among the 49 who lost their lives that night. I would never again hear his laughter, feel his warm embrace, or share our unique bond. His life was snuffed out by an individual motivated by hate, who had unfettered access to a firearm.
People often approach me and say, “I can’t even fathom…” And you will hear this too. While I understand their intentions, I wish they could truly comprehend the utter despair that comes with losing a child to gun violence. If everyone could grasp the depth of our heartbreak, perhaps the conversation around preventing gun violence would not still be ongoing. We would have found the determination to make society safer by now.
My heart aches for those who are just beginning this harrowing journey—the injured who face the daunting task of rebuilding their lives, the traumatized who are haunted by memories they cannot escape, and you, the loved ones left in a parched landscape of sorrow. I find myself asking again: how much longer must we endure this pain? How many more lives need to be taken, and how many more families must suffer before we muster the courage to implement necessary policy changes?
Are we really prepared to accept that the threat of violence while attending a store, movie, mall, school, nightclub, or concert is simply part of life in the United States? This is not normal, and it doesn’t have to be this way! Our nation’s gun homicide rate is an astonishing 25 times higher than the average of other developed nations. This is an American crisis, and while this shooting is a profound tragedy, the daily onslaught of gun violence is equally tragic. The phrase “yet another mass shooting” shouldn’t be part of our vocabulary.
Thoughts and prayers fall short of honoring the lives we’ve lost and will continue to lose if we don’t take a stand against gun violence. Too many leaders are insisting that we should mourn before discussing policy. I argue that it’s far too late for that. I’ve been mourning since the days of Columbine, Aurora, Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook, San Bernardino, and especially Orlando. Now, I mourn alongside those of you who lost friends, children, partners, siblings, or parents in that tragic event. We cannot afford to wait any longer. Each life lost is one too many.
This is a crucial moment for us. For years, the gun lobby and their supporters in Congress have pushed for a “guns everywhere” agenda. Recently, they attempted to weaken the laws surrounding the use and purchase of silencers, which could have amplified the chaos in Las Vegas. Imagine the devastation if concertgoers and first responders had been unable to hear the gunfire.
Additionally, the gun lobby is advocating for “concealed carry reciprocity,” a dangerous policy that would override state gun laws. Instead of creating a national standard for who can carry a concealed weapon, it would require all states to accept the standards of others—even those with no requirements at all, such as Idaho and Arizona.
Yet, many of our leaders prioritize the profits of gun manufacturers over the safety of our communities. They buckle under pressure from the gun lobby. It’s high time we demand that they prioritize our safety and the well-being of our loved ones. To the parents of the 58, I stand with you in your grief. I understand your pain and sorrow. Know that millions across the country stand with you, ready to support you in honoring your children’s lives.
Join the movement to end gun violence and reject the gun lobby’s dangerous agenda by texting REJECT to 64433. In memory of Las Vegas and all those lost to this epidemic, we must demand action from our elected officials. The time to act is now.
In summary, this heartfelt message urges action against gun violence, advocating for policy changes that prioritize safety over profits. As we stand united with those affected by tragic losses, we must push for a collective demand for change.