My cousin was murdered in 1988, during an armed robbery. He was a new father to a four-month-old son. He was more like a younger brother (rather than a nephew) to my father. The pain and trauma of his sudden death is one that our family carries, even 30-plus years later. Throughout my childhood, many family events were tinged with sadness because Joseph wasn’t there. It was and is heartbreaking to us. His death was senseless and preventable. It is in my work as a Moms Demand Action volunteer that I honor Joseph’s memory and the memories of all those who are taken from us too soon because of the epidemic that is gun violence.