Advertisement

If You're Still Not Convinced We Need Gun Control, Watch This

From Cosmopolitan

Gun control has been a prominent and important topic at this year's Democratic National Convention, and on Wednesday night, Orlando shooting victim Christopher "Drew" Leinonen's mother took the stage in order to bring the message home.

"It takes about five minutes for a church bell to ring 49 times," Christine Leinonen said. "I know this because last month, my son Christopher, his boyfriend Juan, and 47 others were murdered at a club in Orlando. Christopher was my only child. As I used to tell him, you can't do better than perfect."

"The weapon that murdered my son fires 30 rounds in one minute," she continued. "An Orlando city commissioner pointed out the terrible math. One minute per gun to fire so many shots, five minutes per bell to honor so many lives. I'm glad common-sense gun policy was in place when Christopher was born, but where was that common sense the day he died?"

By her side were Jose Arriagada, her son's ex-boyfriend, and Brandon Wolf, one of his friends, both of whom survived the horrific shooting at Pulse nightclub that left 49 dead last month. You can read her entire, heartbreaking speech below.

It takes about five minutes for a church bell to ring 49 times. I know this because last month, my son Christopher, his boyfriend Juan, and 47 others were murdered at a club in Orlando. Christopher was my only child. As I used to tell him, you can't do better than perfect. He had so many friends, two of whom are here tonight representing hundreds and hundreds more. All his life, he brought people together. In high school, he won the Anne Frank Humanitarian Award for starting the gay-straight alliance. Christopher's paternal grandparents met and fell in love in a Japanese internment camp. So it was in his DNA that love always trumps hate.Christopher was a big Hillary supporter. That's why I'm here, so I can tell you about the day he was born. At the time, I was a Michigan state trooper. When I went into labor, the hospital put my gun in an off-duty safe. I didn't argue. I know common-sense gun policies save lives.The weapon that murdered my son fires 30 rounds in one minute. An Orlando city commissioner pointed out the terrible math. One minute per gun to fire so many shots, five minutes per bell to honor so many lives. I'm glad common-sense gun policy was in place when Christopher was born, but where was that common sense the day he died? I never want you to ask that question about your child. That's why I support Hillary Clinton.

Follow Gina on Twitter.