Richard Martinez spoke in a recent television interview of his anguish at the loss of his 20-year-old son, Christopher.
Christopher was a victim of the Isla Vista shooting in California last Friday.
Richard spoke out at how he felt nothing has changed since the Sandy Hook shootings in 2012.
"To have a kid die, because in this kind of a situation, what has changed? Have we learned nothing? These things are going to continue until somebody does something, so where the hell is the leadership? ... My kid died because nobody responded to what occurred in Sandy Hook."
Mark Baden who lost his seven year old son in Sandy Hook, wrote a moving open letter to Richard saying he was “now part of our extended family”.
“Dear Richard Martinez,
We have not met, but you are now part of our extended family. It is not a family we chose, but a family born from the horrible circumstance of losing a child to gun violence—one that’s only growing each day. My heart breaks for you because I know just a little about the long road ahead of you.
We have reached out to you privately but publicly we wanted to say to you and those feeling the sorrow, anger and frustration of this weeks' shooting, you are not alone. It has helped me, and some of the other family members who lost children and family at Sandy Hook Elementary, to come together and advocate for common sense solutions to expanding programs for mental wellness and gun safety solutions. You will find your own path down this difficult road.
But know that we are here for you and all of you who have been touched by this tragedy. Together we can and will build a safer world for all our children.
With deepest sympathy,
Mark Barden”
Mark Barden”
