It's Manny and Patricia Oliver.

We had to reach out with a quick note today because it’s been 6 years since we spent a holiday with our son Joaquin.

And devastatingly, many other families were forced to spend the holidays without their children this year – all because of gun violence.

While it’s been 6 years since Guac was slaughtered inside the halls of his high school by a mass shooter, just last week another school was rocked by the 83rd mass school shooting of the year.

The fact of the matter is: 2024 has been the deadliest year of mass school shootings on record, and firearms remain the leading cause of death for children and teens.

It has to stop.

No family deserves to know the hollowness of an empty seat at the table this holiday season.

We know you’ve done so much already but please:

Will you read our son’s story and then chip in $15 to help us and BAWN continue the important work to end gun violence and mass shootings for good? >>

— Forwarded Message —

From: Patricia and Manuel Oliver

As students and their families head back to school, we want to share the story of our son Joaquin (“Guac”), who was slaughtered in his school alongside 16 other students, educators, and staff. But if you can’t read our son’s full story, will you chip in $15 to help Ban Assault Weapons NOW! fight to elect champions who will work to eradicate assault weapons like the one that took our son from us? We’re personally asking if you’ll help BAWN hit their budget goal of 500 gifts before midnight. Your support means more to us than you can understand. >>

Guac and us enjoying a meal out

Six years ago our son Joaquin walked into his high school – and never walked back out.

Guac was 17.

He had only a few months to go before graduating when he was murdered in the halls of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School by a gunman with an assault rifle.

Six years, and THOUSANDS of mass shootings later, our elected leaders still haven’t passed a ban on assault weapons like the one that stole our son.

The truth is: The United States is the only nation where we send our kids to school and don’t know if they’ll come home on the bus or in body bags.

And now, students across the country are returning to their schools for a new year.

Our children deserve better than dying in the halls of their schools. Our educators and school staff members deserve better. They deserve to live. But unless we kick out every cowardly politician that refuses to support a federal assault weapons ban and support gun safety Democrats, our schools will NEVER be safe. That’s why we’re asking you to stand alongside our family and BAWN, help us elect gun safety Democratic candidates who will amplify our voices, and FINALLY get assault weapons out of our communities. But, we are still 500 gifts behind our critical goal. Can you chip in $15 in these last 13 hours to say you’re with us? >>

We made a promise in our hearts to never let Guac’s death be in vain.

He is a fierce advocate for gun safety – now we continue his fight.

Last year, we spent the summer traveling to the sites of modern mass shootings to spread Guac’s message and pressure our lawmakers to take action to end gun violence.

Inside Guac’s Magical School Bus with Sam Schwartz

Last year, we even drove 23 school buses to the National Rifle Association’s HQ, which resemble the 1,252 children shot and killed so far in 2023.

But in the year since, we’ve seen record-levels of mass shootings – including at 35 schools in 2024 so far.

And our country has experienced more than 360 mass shootings in the first 242 days of 2024.

The pain – the loss – the families ripped apart… It’s devastating. It’s horrifying.

And we have a duty to put an end to it.

So, we’re asking you to join our fight too – because we need everyone on our side if we’re going to put an end to these mass slaughters. Please, will you pitch in $15 to help us make 2024 the year we stamp out school shootings and mass shootings of all kinds? If 500 gun safety champions step up before BAWN’s Deadline in 13 hours, they’ll secure the funds to put pressure on every single lawmaker to pass an assault weapons ban and the funds to kick out those lawmakers who refuse to fight for the people. Can we count on you? Each and every contribution goes to electing gun safety candidates and DEFEATING the gun lobby’s cronies in Congress. >>

Chip in $15 now >>

Chip in $25 now >>

Chip in $50 now >>

Chip in $100 now >>

Chip in another amount now >>

Thanks for fighting alongside us,

Patricia and Manny Oliver
Parents of Joaquin Oliver
Founders of Change the Ref

PS: Take action to encourage your elected officials to END gun violence for good by using the ShotLine to call in to their offices >>