“The thought of her name being used to infringe upon the rights of any other citizen is just more than I could bear.”
The pain and sorrow that comes with losing a child is something I wish no parent ever had to go through. As writer Jay Neugeboren wrote in An Orphan’s Tale almost fifty years ago:
A wife who loses a husband is called a widow.
A husband who loses a wife is called a widower.
A child who loses his parents is called an orphan.
There is no word for a parent who loses a child.
That’s how awful the loss is.
Ryan Petty knows that awfulness all too well. His daughter Alaina was robbed of her life and stolen from her family by a cowardly killer at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018, and life will never be the same for her family and friends. In the years since her senseless murder, Ryan has not only quietly helped other parents who’ve lost children of their own come to grips with their grief and find a way forward out of the darkness, but has made it his mission to ensure the safety and security of kids on campuses across the country; a goal he fervently believes can be accomplished without shredding our right to keep and bear arms.
In a new video released by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Ryan poignantly shares his love for Alaina, and explains why her death didn’t lead him to believe that banning guns is the answer. It’s a powerful and moving piece, and I’d encourage you to watch and share with others.
By Cam Edwards
