My son Jerry was shot and killed at Pulse nightclub on June 12, 2016, together with other 48 innocent souls. He was there because it was Latin night, and he loved Latin music. Jerry was a wonderful, loving, caring son. He was friends with everyone and truly wanted to make this world a better place. He was an entrepreneur at heart. But his life got cut short by a man full of hate in his heart, and because he was allowed to easily and readily access weaponry meant only for war.
I miss my son each and every day that goes by. I see his image on my phone, in the many photos we have at home, in the beautiful portrait done by my daughter that is hanging on the wall in our family room. But I can no longer hug him, or talk to him, or guide him. That was all taken from me. This is the toll of gun violence in our society. We must all work to end this painful epidemic.
I will dedicate my life to end gun violence any way I can. Because the pain and suffering that we’ve had to endure is something no one should have to go through. My biggest regret is that I did not get involved in this cause sooner.
There is not a single hour that I do not think of my son. I will honor his memory with action.