LETTER TO THE EDITOR — Justice for A.J. Owens

Dear Editor:

On Monday, we mourned a Marion County mother who should not have died. A mother who was protecting her children from an unhinged neighbor. A mother doing what all mothers do; love their babies. This mother, A.J. Owens, knocked on a closed, locked, metal door and was shot to death through the door in front of her 9-year-old son. Her son now blames himself for the death of his mother, a tremendous weight that no child should ever carry. There were many victims that day. Four young children will grow up without a lifetime of special moments with their mother. A.J.’s own mother, brother, and a number of beloved family members and friends are left to struggle through immense sadness, grief, and senseless loss.

Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law, along with other recent gun related legislation, enables a dangerous gun culture that abandons safety measures for all Floridians, and disproportionately affects gun violence victims of color.

The Democratic Women’s Club of Florida calls for justice for A.J. Owens and her family. We further support all efforts to eliminate or amend Stand Your Ground and similarly reckless gun legislation.

We grieve for a mother’s life cut short due to gun violence. We grieve with her children, family, and friends. Finally, we vow to support and affect gun legislation reform. Floridians have a right to enjoy safety in their communities. Sadly, A.J. and her children weren’t privy to that right.

Meri Forte-Namuj
President
The Democratic Women’s Club of Florida