00:00When I worked for Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America,
00:16I saw firsthand the power of telling our stories.
00:24You've just heard mine, but there are many more to tell.
00:31On December 14, 2012, I walked into Sandy Hook School.
00:38I stopped at the office, chatted with my principal, then started my day with my second graders.
00:46Suddenly, a loud crash, like metal folding chairs, falling.
00:54One hundred fifty-four gunshots blaring.
01:01Hiding in the coats, trying to sing with my students, trying to read to them, trying
01:09to drown out the sounds.
01:13Terror, crying, running.
01:19I carry that horrific day with me.
01:23Twenty beautiful first grade children and six of my beautiful colleagues were killed.
01:32They should still be here.
01:36It's 10.30 a.m. at Robb Elementary in Uvalde.
01:44The school is recognizing my ten-year-old daughter, Lexi, for receiving all As.
01:50She receives a Good Citizen Award and we pose for photos.
01:55She wears a St. Mary's sweatshirt and a smile that lights up the room.
02:02Thirty minutes later, a gunman murders her, 18 classmates, and two teachers.
02:09We are taken to a private room where police tell us she isn't coming home.
02:14Uvalde is national news.
02:18Parents everywhere reach for their children.
02:20I reach out for the daughter I will never hold again.
02:24I was in high school when my classmate got shot.
02:28It changed my story.
02:30Instead of worrying about taking a test, I started worrying about living to take another
02:36test.
02:37They say schools are for learning, and I did learn a lot that day.
02:43I learned how to run, how to hide and drop, that what happens in the news can happen to
02:50me.
02:51But I learned something else, too, that we can write and must write a new story if we
02:57choose to.
03:01For five years, I served in Congress from a swing district.
03:07They called me a rising star.
03:10Then on January 8, 2011, a man tried to assassinate me.
03:16He shot 19 people.
03:18He killed six.
03:20Terrible, terrible day.
03:23I almost died, but I fought for my life, and I survived.
03:28I learned to walk again, one step at a time.
03:38I learned to talk again, one word at a time.
03:42So many people helped me as I worked hard to recover, including a decent man for Delaware
03:50who always checked in.
03:52He still does.
03:58Thank you, Joe Biden.
03:59Thank you for everything.
04:00Joe is a great president.
04:08My friend Kamala will be a great president.
04:13She is tough.
04:14She has grit.
04:18Kamala can beat the gun lobby.
04:21She can fight gun trafficking.
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