Mother’s Day has transformed profoundly for me. Once a day filled with joy, now it serves as a painful reminder of what I’ve lost. Two years after my son’s tragic passing, I find myself clinging to the last gift he gave me, a watercolor flower painting, which now sits beside his photo on my nightstand.
While many celebrate Mother’s Day with brunch and bouquets, its origins remind us of mothers who grieved for their fallen children in war, urging society to advocate for peace and security. Nowadays, more children are lost to gun violence than to armed conflict. In the U.S., seven kids are killed by guns every day.
My son, Lucas, had a heart of gold. He was a compassionate young man. At just 13, he was killed by a gunshot wound to his chest—an accidental shooting by a classmate who mishandled a loaded shotgun.
When I was invited to participate in the documentary Making a Killing: Guns, Greed and the NRA, I knew I had to share my story, even if it meant revisiting my deepest pain. If my experience could help save even one life, it was worth it. Watching the film with my family, I was struck by the images of my son’s blood on the floor, his belongings scattered around. It starkly highlighted the rampant violence and misery caused by greed in our society. In the same year Lucas died, the Mossberg Corporation, a leading gun manufacturer, made over $201 million—more than $80,000 for every child shot and killed in 2014.
Every week, nearly two children unintentionally lose their lives to gunfire, often at the hands of another child. The prevalence of accidental shootings is alarming, even making it into mainstream entertainment, like a recent episode of Grey’s Anatomy.
It seems obvious that firearms should be stored securely, away from inquisitive children. Yet, in Washington and much of the country, it is legal to leave guns unlocked and accessible. Approximately 1.7 million children live in homes with loaded and unlocked firearms.
Earlier this year in Tennessee, a 3-year-old boy tragically lost his life when accidentally shot, all while lawmakers delayed voting on a bill mandating safe firearm storage. The NRA opposed this bill, which ultimately failed. They had also pushed against a similar proposal in my home state just before Lucas was killed, resulting in a lack of necessary legislation.
This Mother’s Day, as we celebrate mothers and honor those wishing to become mothers, I urge you to advocate for the safety of our children. As a mother, I took all the precautions I thought necessary to protect my son—no unsupervised parties, constant check-ins, and discussions about firearm safety. However, one crucial question I neglected to ask was whether my son’s friends had guns at home. Asking, “Is there an unlocked gun in your house?” could potentially save a child’s life.
But don’t stop there. Contact your representatives and demand they watch Making a Killing, confront the NRA, and enact measures to protect our kids. Inquire why they prioritize the NRA’s interests over our children’s safety and why they resist investing in smart gun technology that can prevent unauthorized use.
Because of their inaction, I faced the heart-wrenching task of arranging my son’s funeral. Lucas was a loving child who enjoyed spending time with his older brother, Jake, their dog Max, and immersing himself in video games. Mother’s Day will never be the same without him.
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In summary, this Mother’s Day should be a call to action. Let’s protect our children by advocating for safe gun storage and holding lawmakers accountable for their inaction. Our kids deserve a future free from the threat of gun violence.