Ronald Holt

Dear Mr. Holt,

My husband and I lost a child to gun violence on April 3, 2005. He was 20. He was a passenger in a car in the backseat. A car came up along side of them shot a gun into the car and the bullet went into his chest. He died instantly. They have not caught the person who did this and I don't think they will.  All of the news stories are really upsetting me. Is enough really being done to stop these senseless killings? I know that an act of initiation into a gang is killing someone and you even get a tear drop tatoo on your cheek. How is this normal?  How is it that these gang bangers can kill someone and go on as if nothing happened...even brag about it like some big accomplishment.  They are getting away with murder. How is this possible? These gangs have guns. What is being done about this really? Our sons are 6 feet under, their lives are over, and these killers just go on. What is happening...what are people raising? Our son was killed on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. My question is  "Is Common Sense Gun Laws really going to work? These gangs are able to obtain guns illegally, have them illegally and nothing is being done about it. Is this law really going to take the guns out of their hands? Our son died three years ago and not a day goes by that we do not think of him.  I want to go to the anti-gun rallies that are held when a child gets killed, but are those rallies working? Do they really care or are they just trying to apease people.

I am so sorry for your loss. Your son looked like an awesome, bright, intelligent, very good looking young man, who had his whole life ahead of him. How sad it is that their lives are over because of a killing so senseless. My prayers and thoughts are with you and your wife. God bless you both.

Thank god for strong people like you! May God Bless YOU all!

I listen to you this morning on the radio station, and signed up. You said something that caught my attention. It was about the Major listening to you. I tried to contact Alderman Walter Burnett to share my ideas but he never response. My family and I can some what feel what you are and was going through. In 1985 I was hanging outside with my friends, yes it was a little late (10:15) but I was right in front of my building(in Cabrini Green)... Before I continue with that, I was an A & B student, no guns, drugs nor gangs, I won the art fair 3 consecutive years, one of if not the best athlete from Cabrini Green(not bragging), and there was a few that made it to the pros. Back to the story... I was 13. Shot 5 times at close range. Shielding a younger friend who I have always protected then. Died for 52 minutes. That incident there changed my life forever, and if I can turn back the hands of time... I wouldn't have changed a thing. Before that I used to always take off my shirt in the summer time, go swimming and wear tank tops. After, I had nasty scares and everyone looked at me funny. At 16 my mother sent me to Kalamazoo Mi. to stay with my father. While there I was on the verge of greatness I was the stud at one school while Derek Jeter was at the other, but I had to come back to Chicago... because my father was killed over $17. At 18 I tried out for the White Sox but they said they do not think my arm would hold up(because of me being shot). Working at Mc Donald's at 19 I had my first child. It was the happiest time of my life. I was proud, and poor. Mc Donald's just didn't do it. So I turned to drugs. I was good at it and it helped me help others. It sent me to prison, turned friends into foes, and I was addicted to selling drugs, because I was good at it. After 6 years at the top I was tired. So I quit. I bought school supplies for the kids, took some to Great America, had Bar-B-Cues once a week for the Building I was in until I was flat broke. The reason I did all that was because I was tired, tired of the life I was living and despise so much at the same time. So I started over fresh. It was 2 years before I got a break with a job and that didn't work. My background kept me down, but not my will, I was too strong. For about 2 more years I worked off and on being supported by my wife until I found the job I have now. My life have had so many turn and obstacles whereas I have so much knowledge and ways to help those who want it.I always say I don't want to learn carpentry from a chef, get my breaks done at the pharmacy, so why not let someone who been there and done it help you. The reason I said "I wouldn't have changed a thing" is because if I would have never been shot, the people in my life, my wife, my 6 children, many others and also you probably would have never crossed my path and on my path is happiness... THANK YOU for reading my story and I hope I can assist you in your quest to help our youths... PEACE