I’m Taking A Stand Against Gun Violence Because…
Sharing your story is a powerful way to speak out against gun violence. It will provide a human face to the impact of gun violence that will be too powerful to ignore. Your story can also bring about real change. It can inspire another person to speak out and gain strength from your voice, and it could even help enact measures to reduce gun violence.
Join other New Yorkers in taking a stand against gun violence in our state.
I want to share my story, now what? It’s really easy to send us your video.
- Use your computer, phone, flip video or digital camera to record your story. You can also click here to visit YouTube and automatically activate your computer’s camera.
- Upload your video to YouTube, Vimeo, Flip, etc.
- Copy and paste the link to the video into the form below. If you are having problems with the form below, you can email us the link at story@nyagv.org.
- In the form below, make sure you include your first and last name, email address and city/town and state.
Once you have submitted your story, it will be queued for moderation.
3 stories
Norma Castellar says:
Aug 20, 2012
My name is Norma Castellar. My son Luis Patrick Catalan was killed on June 7, 2012 in front of Columbia University. Even though the area is highly monitored with security cameras and live security personnel, this terrible act took place. It was a triple homocide yet the only thing I got from the police and the media was that this took place because of a drug deal gone bad. There were no drugs or weapons found in the car he was killed in. My son had $37 in his pocket. I was shocked at the fact that out of all the assumptions and accusations no one mentioned the fact that our streets are filled with gun violence and it’s completely out of control. Luis was my only son, we were a team. He was an aspiring actor, rapper. A great son, father and husband. I believe our communities are infested with criminals like the monster who killed my son. These criminals have access to weapons and this must be stopped. Our political leaders, and police should be more involved in our communities, not only when it’s time for elections or when a police officer has been killed but over all. We need to secure our neighborhoods just like the rich neighborhoods are secured. I’m angry at the fact that the only way they could find to describe this horrible act was to label it the way they felt it fit because of where it happened. We need a change and we needed now! I’m willing to go that extra mile so that maybe I can help save at least one life. I know my son would like that. About 2 months before he was killed we were discussing how bad it was to walk the streets now days. His words to me were, “mom I could never take the life of another person, that is the biggest sin in Gods eyes”. His life was taken.
Barbara Allen says:
Jan 18, 2013
About 25 years ago as a Special Education teacher in a preschool program here on Long Island, my administrator knocked on my door to tell me to take a student with me to the faculty room. As per a phone call from the mother, we were warned that this child’s father was on his way to our building with a gun. As we were cordoned off in these quarters, every classroom door window was blackened out as we awaited the outcome of this man’s arrival. Fortunately,our principal was able to talk him into leaving the premises. A gun was never seen, tragedy was averted. I am glad to be able to tell this story which had a happy ending. We were lucky.
patricia u stegman says:
Jan 22, 2013
I feel that all the discussions about keeping guns out of the hands of the wrong people do not deal with
one of the most violent problems we have in NYC–the police killings. Many of these killings are completely
unnecessary….by sheer good luck; none of the innocent bystanders in the Empire State Building shootout by the police, died…but several were wounded. The police shoot first and ask questions (or rather; it is the citizens of the city who ask, never the police) –later.
We will never have safety in our city until all shooting by police are subject to a trial. If it is murder;
they most prove that it was in self defense. Most are actually NOT. The police are a group which is allowed to use guns; to shoot even in a crowd where they may hit bystanders; and they are above the law. In effect; they have become a law unto themselves.