By Jody Rabhan, Deputy Director of Washington Operations

Age 10, Topeka, Kansas; Age 62, South Pasadena, Florida; Age 15, Columbus, OH; Age 44, Tulare, CA.

Different ages, different places. What unites them is how they died: by a gun.
The names of these victims and others were read aloud beginning on Wednesday, April 10, when families of gun-violence victims began continuously reading names of those killed by guns since the tragedy in Newton, Connecticut. This campaign was launched as the Senate was expected to begin debate on a gun violence prevention measure – the first time gun legislation would be debated in Congress since the 1990s. A handful of Republican Senators threated to stifle or filibuster this debate, and thus a campaign was born: Filibuster the Filibuster.

On Thursday, I joined the families of victims and survivors of gun violence as well as gun-violence prevention advocates on the national Mall to help read the names. Readers included Lori Haas, who spoke at NCJW’s Washington Institute about her daughter who survived the Virginia Tech shooting; Jillian Soto, whose sister Vicki Soto died shielding her students at Sandy Hook Elementary School; Emily Nottingham, the mother of former Rep. Gabby Giffords’ (D-AZ) staffer Gabe Zimmerman who was shot and killed in Tucson, Arizona; Steve Barton, survivor of the Aurora, Colorado, shooting; and Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-CT), who represents Newtown.

I read the names of those killed on January 17, 2013 – coincidentally, my birthday. Though I recognized none of the names, I was struck by the man shot and killed in Richmond, Virginia – my hometown. The death of an 11- year-old boy due to gun violence gave me pause; I have an 11- year-old boy. The family of four shot and killed by guns; I, too, have a family of four.

We can all relate. Gun violence knows no boundaries – it’s not dependent on the color of your skin or your socio-economic level. The ease of obtaining guns, even military-style assault weapons and the abundance of guns in the US, makes anyone and everyone a potential target.

It took more than 12 hours to read the names of more than 3,300 individuals killed by guns since Newtown. For over 32 hours and 40 minutes, volunteers continuously read the names until the Senate went out of session on April 11. During that time, the Senate voted 68 to 31 to end their filibuster and allow debate on a gun violence prevention bill. And, during that time, a Republican from Philadelphia, Sen. Patrick Toomey joined with a Democrat from West Virginia, Sen. Joe Manchin, to reach a compromise on background checks.

Taken together, these two actions sent the message that “Now is the Time.” The President and Vice President believe now is the time. Many Democrats and Republicans believe now is the time. For those affected by gun violence, they know now is the time. The reading of names resumed today outside the Capitol with Eddie Weingart, who as a 2 year old saw his mother shot and killed. Families and advocates will continue to read the names until the Senate votes on gun prevention legislation. Until then, we will work until there are no more names to read.

A thought-provoking, urgent ad from Moms Demand Action that’s been circulating online.