I’m not doing this because I work for the Brady Campaign . . .

I’m doing this as someone who worked to get Gabby Giffords elected… someone who knew Gabe Zimmerman, her staffer who was killed last January… and as someone who understands all too well that it could have been you or me standing in front of that Safeway in Tucson.

My heart breaks to think of all the lives that were changed forever because it was way too easy for a disturbed man to get semi-automatic with a high-capacity assault clip.

I think of Gabe, who wanted to someday be a school teacher;

Of Dorwin Stoddard, who threw himself on top of his wife, Mavy, to protect her from gunfire;

Of Christina-Taylor Green, a 9 year-old whose dream was to some day be the first woman to play major league baseball;

And I’m determined to act so that no one else has to die in a senseless shooting spree like they did. So please — I ask you to mark this solemn anniversary by standing with the Brady Campaign once again.

I ask you to make a gift for those we lost, for those who survived and for all of us who understand that as long as our nation’s weak gun laws make it easy for dangerous people to get deadly weapons, this kind of tragedy could happen again in any of our communities.

Inspiring us yet again by their leadership and determination, Jim and Sarah Brady will light candles on January 8th to remember those who have lost their lives to gun violence. Take part in this historic event by either attending or hosting a candlelight vigil in your community.