Mother’s Day without my son

Today is hard for me -- it’s my 7th Mother’s Day without my son Joaquin. Six years ago, he was shot and killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas in Parkland along with 16 others. [Patricia Oliver]( [I’m about to ask you for $15 to help make sure no Mother has to lose a child to gun violence ever again. But first, I hope you’ll let me tell you my story. >>]( Yesterday was hard for me, {NAME} -- it was my 7th Mother’s Day without my son Joaquin. Six years ago, he was shot and killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas in Parkland along with 16 others. Joaquin was just 17 years old. He was smart, talented, and a beautiful soul who wanted to change the world. [Patricia Oliver and son Joaquin]( He would often spend hours talking about the government’s refusal to take action to end gun violence. Every day I think about him and what his last moments must have been like. But that day I made a promise to not let what happened be in vain. I knew I had to do something to make a difference. So I’m working to amplify Joaquin’s voice to make sure everyone hears his message and that his legacy lives on. Last summer, our family embarked on a tour of mass shooting sites with our friend Sam Schwartz, who lost his cousin and best friend Alex in the Parkland shooting that stole Joaquin from us. [Now, Sam is going on another nationwide tour to rally Gen Z voters, support Democratic candidates in swing states, and elect a government that will take the bold action we need. But we need your help, {NAME}. Too many complacent lawmakers remain silent while our children are gunned down. We have to do everything in our power to kick them out of office and replace them with candidates who are committed to ending gun violence. To do it we need to raise $4,500 before midnight to fully fund Sam’s DARING tour to save our democracy by elevating the leaders we need. Will you chip in $15 to help BAWN, Sam, and I replace cowardly lawmakers with powerful leaders who will stand with us? Your contribution will support Sam’s Tour to Save Democracy on the road. >>]( This email is hard to write, {NAME}. But it’s important you hear this: No Mother should have to go through what I did six years ago. No Mother should receive a call telling them their child was shot. No Mother should have to feel the pain of losing a child. Heartbreakingly every day over 100 families lose someone they love to gun violence. Yet lawmakers like Ron DeSantis still refuse to take action to end gun violence. [That’s why I’m teaming up with BAWN and Sam to unseat cowards like Ron DeSantis who stand by while hundreds of mothers lose their children every day. But if we are going to defeat them, it’s going to take all of us banding together and fighting for change – and that’s exactly what Sam is doing as he travels from state to state to rally Gen Z voters to action. So we set an ambitious goal to raise $4,500 to support Sam's tour. Will you chip in $15 to help Sam elect candidates who will join our fight and do everything they can to make sure no more Mothers lose their children to gun violence? I can’t tell you how much it would mean to me. >>]( [Chip in $15 now >>]( [Chip in $25 now >>]( [Chip in $50 now >>]( [Chip in $100 now >>]( [Chip in another amount now >>]( Thank you, Patricia Oliver Mom of Joaquin, BAWN Board Member [Learn more about Sam’s Tour to Save Democracy here >>](        ‚  ‚   BAWN is committed to replacing every cowardly and complacent lawmaker, regardless of party, that denies your right to live without fear of being shot. Legislators that support the deadly proliferation of guns, instead of common sense gun safety measures, are responsible for the carnage of gun violence -- and must be voted out. BAWN also lobbies legislators to support the assault weapon and large capacity magazine ban bills that will help put an end to the slaughter of innocent Americans. But they can’t do this alone. BAWN is relying on your support to kick every coward who refuses to protect our children and families OUT of office. Will you chip in right away? [DONATE](   To learn more about our story, watch this video from our chair Gail Schwartz [here.]( [I'm Gail Schwartz, Chair of Ban Assault Weapons Now PAC](   To learn more about our work, watch this video from the families of Parkland and Pulse [here.]( [Weapons of War Video](    [If you want to stay updated but receive fewer emails, please let us know.]( [If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here]( Ban Assault Weapons Now PAC 6619 S Dixie Hwy #148 Miami, FL 33143 United States  Paid for by Ban Assault Weapons Now PAC   Sent via [ActionNetwork.org](. To update your email address, change your name or address, or to stop receiving emails from Ban Assault Weapons Now PAC, please [click here](.