Why I Joined Moms Demand Action

I recently attended Gun Sense University in Albuquerque. In addition to big morale-boosting group sessions, we also had breakout workshops. One I took was Telling Your Story.

One mom shared her story of complete despair and helplessness after Sandy Hook. Another spoke of her daughter being on a college campus with an active shooter. As someone who enjoys writing, I thought this would be a slam dunk for me. But as I sat there trying to pull together my story, I realized I don’t have one thing that brought me to Moms.

For me, it was not a shooting that has made me vocal.

It wasn’t Columbine — the first mass shooting where I felt it viscerally, but I was 26 — didn’t have kids in high school and was completely self-absorbed.

It wasn’t VaTech — even though I lived-in Virginia at the time. Again, no kids of college age and Blacksburg seemed so far away. My stepson Robb attends VaTech now.

Nor Aurora — despite that I love the movies and now can’t go to one without looking for an exit or thinking of how I would shield my loved ones if someone came in with a gun.

Nor Sandy Hook — although I sobbed and mourned and cried some more.

Nor the Washington Navy Yard — even though my husband worked there at the time, in the very building where the shooting took place. He just happened to go in late that day.

No, it was actually a non-shooting. I was driving to work and two police cars flew past me, going in the opposite direction. The direction of Ruby’s middle school. Their sirens were blaring and lights on. I immediately thought “I pray there isn’t a shooter at Ruby’s school.” The knot grew in my stomach as all those events — Columbine, VaTech, Sandy Hook — played in my head. When I got to work, I was somewhat relieved to learn it was a bomb threat at another nearby school…but the catalyst was set. I knew right then I could not stand by and just let something happen. I knew that even if my action did not change things overnight, that at least I could say I tried and did SOMETHING. Just the simple act of getting involved made me feel less helpless. And being around other like-minded people is comforting. Plus, meeting sensible gun owners who belong to Moms or at least agree with what we are doing, makes me believe that we are creating change.

Since I joined Moms, the US has had hundreds of additional shootings and thousands of deaths to gun violence. Maybe you haven’t had your moment or event — the thing that prompts you to action. Maybe you are just tired of the constant barrage of stories about toddlers shooting themselves or abusive husbands killing their estranged wives. If so, join us. Do something to feel less helpless.