Moments That Survive offers those who have experienced gun violence a platform to share their story in their own words.
Survivors of gun violence can talk about the issue of gun violence with unique lived experience. The voices, faces and stories of survivors of gun violence are critical to creating lasting social and legislative change — and social media and other platforms can help amplify survivors’ voices in powerful ways. Sharing your story is your choice, and you should make informed decisions about whether and how you do it. This document is meant to be a resource to you as you evaluate whether you want to share your story with the public.
Many survivors find that sharing their story can be a positive, even a transformative experience. Survivors have said sharing their story to help build the gun safety movement is empowering, healing, and/or helps honor their loved ones who have been taken or wounded by gun violence. However, if you choose to share your story, also keep in mind that doing so could also be painful and/or bring on strong emotions. A desire to speak out is important, but preparation is key. That is why it is important to prioritize self-care, regularly conduct self-assessments to evaluate whether telling your story is right for you, and seek support if needed.
Please note that you are not permitted to upload or submit any material to Moments that Survive if you are under 13 years of age. If you are at least 13 years of age and less than 18 years of age, you may only share your story on Moments That Survive with the permission and supervision of your parent or legal guardian.
As you begin thinking about how you will write or share your story, consider doing a simple self-assessment to help determine if you are ready to post on the Moments That Survive website, on social media, at an event or to your friends and family. Ask yourself some simple questions:
You may be ready to share or post your story one day and find yourself feeling differently the next. All of these emotions are completely normal. Know that it is completely acceptable to change your mind and decide not to share your story at any point in time. If at any time you wish to remove your story after it has been published, please write to us at Moments@everytown.org.
Social media can be a powerful tool for you in the aftermath of gun violence. Talking about your experience and the healing connection can create a sense of community with others who have experienced similar trauma. Also, an online community can be crucial for those who live in isolated areas or feel isolated in their offline community. Your experience, and the sharing of that experience, can help change public awareness and public policy. When more people break down the silence surrounding gun violence and recognize their own connections, more change will happen.
However, as you assess the decision to share your story, maintaining personal safety is a priority; do not share or post your story if doing so places you in an unsafe situation or could harm a pending legal case. Some social media platforms allow you to control your privacy settings, if you so choose. Effective passwords, protecting your personal information, and knowing how to secure your social media accounts can significantly reduce unwanted activity from online users who may seek to harass or intimidate you. Some ways to protect your information include:
A “troll” is someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community or in comments to an online article, with the primary goal of disrupting a discussion by provoking an emotional response. It can be upsetting when someone says something negative or hurtful about something as personal as your experience with gun violence. Know that even though trolls can be loud and disruptive, they are in the minority – most Americans support and stand on the side of gun safety. The best way to deal with trolls is to ignore them. If a troll persistently harasses you or threatens you (including sharing your personal information), you should report the incident to Facebook or other social media sites and block them. If you feel your safety is threatened, please contact local law enforcement.
Take just a moment (five minutes or over the course of days, whatever feels right) to sit still and reflect upon what you need to do to help yourself before or as you choose to share your story. Self-care is about being better attuned to your own needs and then responding to those needs. Self-care is not selfish, it actually helps you to be the best you can be and will support you throughout the stages of sharing your story: writing, posting, reading the comments of others, and reflecting upon the experience.
Some Self-Care Ideas:
After experiencing gun violence, you may find you would like or need some emotional support or a mental health intervention. Most communities offer a service referred to as 2-1-1, where citizens can pick up the phone and dial 2-1-1 for information and referrals to help. They can give you the name and contact number for crisis support, counseling, or any resource available in your community.
Other National Resources:
Through the Everytown Survivor Network, you can also find peer support and mental health resources. To learn more, please fill out this sign-up form to join the Everytown Survivor Network and you will receive information about additional resources.
DISCLAIMER. This information does not and cannot constitute or substitute medical or legal advice. Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund is an organization dedicated to educating and bringing awareness around the issue of gun violence prevention, not providing medical or legal advice. If you are experiencing a medical, mental health, or other emergency, please dial 9-1-1 for immediate assistance.