Friend, my daughter Amanda was a kind, loving person. A pharmacy technician studying to become a nurse, she was always committed to helping others – but she'll never get to achieve those dreams because she was shot and killed at Pulse nightclub in 2016.

I'll never get to speak to my daughter Amanda again, but I can still be a voice for her and other victims of gun violence across the country. In honor of Amanda, I've partnered with Ban Assault Weapons NOW to prevent the next gun-violence tragedy – and we need your help today.

We need to raise $20,000 by our end-of-month deadline Saturday, but we're way behind on our goal. Please, will you make a contribution right now – even just $5 would make a difference – to help us stop the next senseless mass shooting and ban assault weapons like the one that murdered my daughter?

It's too late for my daughter and the 48 other Pulse victims – but it's not too late to stop the next tragedy before it happens. It's possible to have commonsense gun reform and gun safety at the same time, and I believe that we can finally ban the kind of weapon that murdered my daughter if we all come together to demand change.

Together, I know we have what it takes to prevent the next mass shooting, but we're on track right now to have the deadliest year ever for gun violence – and that's why it's so important that we have the resources to double down on this campaign.

Please, friend, to protect our communities from gun violence, donate $5 – or whatever you can spare – today to help us reach our fundraising goal by Saturday at midnight. Every dollar will go directly toward our fight to save lives.

Thank you for joining us in this fight,

Mayra Alvear  

Mother of Amanda Alvear
Committee Member, Ban Assault Weapons NOW