School Shooting Survivor Mia Tretta Shares Message on Staying Focused Amid Endless Tragedies

Mia Tretta—a survivor of the Saugus High School shooting in Santa Clarita, California—speaks with the Center for American Progress about her experience and the need to maintain momentum following such gun violence tragedies.

Gun Violence Prevention, Public Safety

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In Their Own Words: Stories From Gun Violence Survivors

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In Their Own Words: Stories From Gun Violence Survivors

In 2019, a student at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, California, opened fire on classmates. Two people were killed, and three others were injured. Mia Tretta, then 15, was shot in the stomach and lost her best friend. A few months ago, she spoke with the Center for American Progress about her experience and shared a message on how we must stay focused in the face of seemingly endless gun violence tragedies.

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Gun Violence Prevention

Our goal is to reduce gun violence by enacting strong gun laws, increasing investment in local solutions, and growing the movement dedicated to this mission.

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In Their Own Words: Stories From Gun Violence Survivors

SeriesAugust 14, 2023

In Their Own Words: Stories From Gun Violence Survivors

Every day, 132 Americans are killed with guns and hundreds more are shot and wounded. That means that every 11 minutes, families and communities across the country are forever changed by gun violence.

To create healing, solidarity, and progress, we must listen to those affected directly by the gun violence epidemic. By bringing these stories to the forefront of our discussions on gun violence, we can highlight the specific needs of at-risk communities and advocate for a more informed and survivor-focused approach to building safer communities.

Gun Violence Survivors Share Their Messages to Lawmakers