Remembrance group: 'We're not safe with current gun laws'
SEATTLE - Hundreds of flowers were planted around Green Lake on Sunday - to honor the thousands of gun violence victims in Washington state.
Washington CeaseFire, which sponsored the Day of Remembrance event, say they hope to save lives by talking openly about gun violence problems.
They're looking ahead by retelling some painful stories from the past - and hoping that when the flowers bloom next spring and beyond, people will remember the thousands of lives cut short by a bullet.
According to statistics compiled by Washington CeaseFire, nearly 6,000 have been gunned down in Washington state in the past decade.
"We're not safe with our current gun laws. We're simply not safe," says Pete Holmes of Washington Ceasefire.
One of the thousands of victims gunned down was Tom Wales, an assistant U.S. attorney, who was shot dead 10 years ago this week in his Queen Anne home by a still-unknown killer.
"Tom always said there was work to be done, and there was a lot of work to be done," said Ralph Fascitelli, one of the speakers at Sunday's event, who was one of Wales' best friends.
Wales was pushing for gun control as president of Washington CeaseFire when he was murdered. Since his death, friends like Fascitelli have pushed to end gun violence.
He says others shouldn't have to lose a loved one before joining their cause.
It's a public health issue," says Fascitelli. "It's not about right or left or politics. This is about saving lives."
Admittedly nervous, 22-year-old Odessa Stevens talked during the Day of Remembrance - about how she almost lost a friend.
She watched friend get shot six times three years ago. She was in the International District when it happened.
Her friend survived - but her security was gone.
"When something like that happens to you, it kind of shakes your whole world," said Stevens. "A long time after that, you kind of don't feel safe."
And just a week and a half ago, a campaign kicked off - with billboards and commercials - asking people to help find the person who killed Tom Wales.
Washington CeaseFire, which sponsored the Day of Remembrance event, say they hope to save lives by talking openly about gun violence problems.
They're looking ahead by retelling some painful stories from the past - and hoping that when the flowers bloom next spring and beyond, people will remember the thousands of lives cut short by a bullet.
According to statistics compiled by Washington CeaseFire, nearly 6,000 have been gunned down in Washington state in the past decade.
"We're not safe with our current gun laws. We're simply not safe," says Pete Holmes of Washington Ceasefire.
One of the thousands of victims gunned down was Tom Wales, an assistant U.S. attorney, who was shot dead 10 years ago this week in his Queen Anne home by a still-unknown killer.
"Tom always said there was work to be done, and there was a lot of work to be done," said Ralph Fascitelli, one of the speakers at Sunday's event, who was one of Wales' best friends.
Wales was pushing for gun control as president of Washington CeaseFire when he was murdered. Since his death, friends like Fascitelli have pushed to end gun violence.
He says others shouldn't have to lose a loved one before joining their cause.
It's a public health issue," says Fascitelli. "It's not about right or left or politics. This is about saving lives."
Admittedly nervous, 22-year-old Odessa Stevens talked during the Day of Remembrance - about how she almost lost a friend.
She watched friend get shot six times three years ago. She was in the International District when it happened.
Her friend survived - but her security was gone.
"When something like that happens to you, it kind of shakes your whole world," said Stevens. "A long time after that, you kind of don't feel safe."
And just a week and a half ago, a campaign kicked off - with billboards and commercials - asking people to help find the person who killed Tom Wales.
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