‘Freedom to Live Without Fear of Gun Violence’ Takes Center Stage at DNC

TIME

The Democratic Party has put combating gun violence at the forefront of its campaign, with the issue given primetime exposure on the final night of the party convention in Chicago on Thursday, as survivors and relatives of victims took to the stage to tell their stories.

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00:00When I worked for Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America,

00:16I saw firsthand the power of telling our stories.

00:24You've just heard mine, but there are many more to tell.

00:31On December 14, 2012, I walked into Sandy Hook School.

00:38I stopped at the office, chatted with my principal, then started my day with my second graders.

00:46Suddenly, a loud crash, like metal folding chairs, falling.

00:54One hundred fifty-four gunshots blaring.

01:01Hiding in the coats, trying to sing with my students, trying to read to them, trying

01:09to drown out the sounds.

01:13Terror, crying, running.

01:19I carry that horrific day with me.

01:23Twenty beautiful first grade children and six of my beautiful colleagues were killed.

01:32They should still be here.

01:36It's 10.30 a.m. at Robb Elementary in Uvalde.

01:44The school is recognizing my ten-year-old daughter, Lexi, for receiving all As.

01:50She receives a Good Citizen Award and we pose for photos.

01:55She wears a St. Mary's sweatshirt and a smile that lights up the room.

02:02Thirty minutes later, a gunman murders her, 18 classmates, and two teachers.

02:09We are taken to a private room where police tell us she isn't coming home.

02:14Uvalde is national news.

02:18Parents everywhere reach for their children.

02:20I reach out for the daughter I will never hold again.

02:24I was in high school when my classmate got shot.

02:28It changed my story.

02:30Instead of worrying about taking a test, I started worrying about living to take another

02:36test.

02:37They say schools are for learning, and I did learn a lot that day.

02:43I learned how to run, how to hide and drop, that what happens in the news can happen to

02:50me.

02:51But I learned something else, too, that we can write and must write a new story if we

02:57choose to.

03:01For five years, I served in Congress from a swing district.

03:07They called me a rising star.

03:10Then on January 8, 2011, a man tried to assassinate me.

03:16He shot 19 people.

03:18He killed six.

03:20Terrible, terrible day.

03:23I almost died, but I fought for my life, and I survived.

03:28I learned to walk again, one step at a time.

03:38I learned to talk again, one word at a time.

03:42So many people helped me as I worked hard to recover, including a decent man for Delaware

03:50who always checked in.

03:52He still does.

03:58Thank you, Joe Biden.

03:59Thank you for everything.

04:00Joe is a great president.

04:08My friend Kamala will be a great president.

04:13She is tough.

04:14She has grit.

04:18Kamala can beat the gun lobby.

04:21She can fight gun trafficking.

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