“On July 18, 2013 in Houston, Texas, my son Corey was shot and killed by a felon, who had just recently been released from prison and just days from having his ankle monitor removed. Corey was visiting his friend’s home when the felon knocked on the door. My son’s friend answered the door and the felon pushed his way into the apartment. Corey was sitting on a couch and the felon immediately shot Corey in the head.

Corey left behind a son who was eight years old and another son who was just one week old.

The pain and grief is something that I will forever live with. I miss my son everyday. I miss him telling me that he loves me, I miss his laugh and most of all I miss his hugs. Watching his children live without him is heartbreaking. My grandsons attend events and see other children with their fathers. There feel the pain of not having their father with them.

In memory of my son, I have created a nonprofit that help families who have been affected by gun violence. We have support group meetings on a monthly basis with licensed traumatic grief counselors and we often help families through their court process. I will forever - as long as I live - fight for gun control laws that will help to reduce the amount of gun violence in our communities. We should not have to live in fear that one day it could happen again. Our children need to feel safe at their school, church and playgrounds.”

-Cathy Taylor, Texas