‘I watched this woman turn her pain into power, and at that moment, I decided I was all in.’

Bellmore

“After the shooting in Parkland [Florida] in 2018, I went to my first meeting for the L.I. chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. I was pregnant with my second boy and afraid one day, I would send my kids to school and never see them again.

“I offered to help where I could. A week later, I attended an event and heard Shenee Johnson speak about her son Kedrick. He was shot and killed in 2010, a few weeks from his high school graduation. I watched this woman turn her pain into power, and at that moment, I decided I was all in.

“The thought of speaking to people gives me anxiety. But I knew I had to do something. I signed up to knock on doors. That first door, my heart was in my throat. But I got myself together and kept knocking on door after door. Something in me clicked. All this time, I thought I couldn’t do it.

Gun violence is the leading cause of death in children and teens. We don’t have to live like this, and we don’t have to die like this.

“Moms Demand Action has a Gun Sense Candidate distinction for people with gun safety at the forefront of their platform. In 2018, our group helped these candidates win. We now had a gun sense majority in both houses. After years of not passing a single gun law, we passed nine. Now we have these incredible representatives who do everything they can to help end gun violence.

“In 2020, I led my first legislative team meeting on Zoom. My anxiety was high as I spoke about how we would win an election amid a global pandemic. Midway through, my son came in wanting to show everyone a photo from his third birthday party. I was mortified, but everyone was happy to see him. That’s when I realized what Moms Demand Action is. We are a family. Now, my boys come with me to knock on doors and love it! They’ve met other activist kids and have playdates at events while we work to keep them safe.

“Gun violence is the leading cause of death in children and teens. We don’t have to live like this, and we don’t have to die like this.”

Interviewed by Jenna Kern – Rugile