It's Been Eight Years
Has there been any progress?
August 26, 2015. A week before we happily celebrated her birthday. A week later we were plunged into unspeakable despair. Eight years have passed since the murder of my daughter, Alison Parker, by a senseless act of gun violence. There are days when it still seems surreal, as if it didn’t happen. Sometimes I find myself thinking I need to find some new pictures of Alison—except there aren’t any. Her image remains frozen in time. On a recent podcast, I spoke about it with Fred Guttenburg whose daughter Jamie was killed at Parkland. He’s had the same discomfiting experience. But we’ve turned our profound grief and anger into action.—two pissed off dads that give no quarter.
So has anything really changed? In the last eight years I have witnessed a mix of progress and stagnation in our efforts to prevent such heartbreaking tragedies. Below, I outline what has evolved and what remains unchanged in the years since Alison's life was stolen from us, emphasizing the persistent challenges we confront and the resilience necessary to surmount them.
Changes and Progress:
1. **Journalist Safety and Awareness:** One encouraging development that has arisen from Alison’s murder is the heightened attention to journalist safety. News organizations and industry bodies have taken significant steps to prioritize the well-being of reporters doing their everyday work, not just operating in potentially perilous environments. These measures include enhanced training, improved security protocols, and thorough risk assessments before assignments. While obstacles persist, it is heartening to witness the media sector taking action to safeguard those who bring us the news.
2. **Mental Health Awareness:** Alison’s death at the hands of a disturbed former colleague shed light on the critical link between mental health issues and acts of violence. The discourse surrounding mental health awareness and the importance of accessible mental health care has broadened, fostering more open conversations and, in some instances, improved support systems. This shift marks a small yet significant stride toward addressing the underlying factors contributing to such heartbreaking incidents.
3. **Advocacy for Gun Control:** Alison's murder amped up nationwide conversations about gun control, and I’m honored to be part of this movement for change. Since then, advocacy groups and dedicated individuals have tirelessly worked to raise awareness and advocate for sensible gun legislation, particularly in progressive states with a strong commitment to gun control. I’m proud of my contributions to the strengthening of gun laws in my home state of Virginia. At the federal level, the bipartisan support for President Biden’s Safer Communities Act gun safety bill represents a positive step forward. In recent days, Parkland survivor and activist David Hogg launched the Leaders We Deserve PAC, which fills me with hope for the future. While I will continue to fight, it's clear that David and his generation must be the ones that carry us over the finish line. David’s best allies are the women and moms out there that have had enough of being scared to send their kids to school. Thanks to the SCOTUS ruling, the forced birth issue has galvanized them and I’d like to think the gun issue is now part of their collective motivation to help move the needle.
However:
Despite increased advocacy, legislative efforts to address gun violence have encountered a brick wall. Political polarization and the influence of the NRA have impeded substantial reform. Even the Safer Communities Act, while a step in the right direction, fell short by not addressing the banning of assault-style weapons. As a grieving father, it's disheartening to witness the mounting toll of lives lost to gun violence, a consequence exacerbated by the outright refusal of the overwhelming majority of Republican lawmakers to do the right thing. Look no further than the Tennessee legislature this week. In spite of an extensive popular majority which notably includes the Republican governor, any attempt to enact impactful measures to tackle gun violence after the most recent school shooting is being blocked the state’s soulless MAGA legislators who are willing to accept the murder of children as collateral damage.
As many of my posts have highlighted, as long as Section 230 remains unchanged, the intersection of what I call "Guns & Google" will continue to erode the fabric of our society, creating an increasingly perilous world. I hope to have some positive news on that front in the coming days/weeks.
My grief is unending, but so too is my commitment to honoring Alison’s memory through action. As I told Scott Pelley in my 60 Minutes interview two years ago when he asked why I was “so brave” I replied, “Because Alison would expect nothing less”.
I am still true to the vow I made the day she was killed. I had a warning for politicians who oppose gun control: “I’m going to shame them, and embarrass them. My mission here is not to let this go away.”
Eight years later, I’m still one pissed off dad determined to make a difference. For Alison. For all of us. #WhateverItTakes