Jitka, Jitty, my dear friend and copilot of 28 years, was senselessly murdered by her stalker: a man who crossed the border from Canada, found and purchased a gun online. It’s a gun he never should have had, a loophole in our laws that took the life of my sister by choice. Every day I miss her; every holiday, birthday, celebration is tarnished by the empty chair at my table and empty space in my heart. I fought then to see her killer brought to justice. I fight today to get sensible gun safety legislation enacted — to stop the flood of blood, to save broken bodies, broken hearts and ended lives.
Jitty, I will carry your laughter, your humor and your kindness with me always.