Lives stolen

Memory of the dead should inspire action on guns

National and state lawmakers should reflect on Jordan Anchondo, her heroism and the scars her family will carry forever.

They should think often about a photo, posted online, that shows Ms. Anchondo holding her 2- month- old son in her arms.

Ms. Anchondo, 25, a mother of three, took the baby to a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, on Saturday.

As a gunman opened fire in the store, Ms. Anchondo shielded her son. She held him in her arms the whole time. She got shot, but the little one survived, almost certainly because she gave her life for him. He is now in the hospital with broken bones. The bones will heal, but what about all of the days in his life that he will yearn for his mom? What about all of the days his siblings do the same?

Ms. Anchondo’s husband, Andre Anchondo, was among the 22 killed, perhaps shielding both his wife and son. Who will hold together the family now?

All across America, people are dying because the nation refuses to deal comprehensively and decisively with gun violence.

It would be difficult to explain that to the family of Angie Englisbee, 86, a mother of seven, also shot dead during the shopping trip to the Walmart minutes after speaking to one of her children by cellphone. It would be difficult to explain as well to the family of Thomas McNichols, one of nine people shot dead early Sunday outside of a bar in Dayton, Ohio. The Dayton Daily News said Mr. McNichols was 25 and a father of four.

In all, more than 30 were killed in one weekend in two cities in opposite parts of the United States. It is vitally important to remember the lives behind the numbers. They were sons and daughters and moms and dads. It could have been our sons and daughters and moms and dads. The heroism of first responders and some of the victims was the only spark of light in the weekend’s darkness.

Politicians may continue to talk about gun violence and why it can’t be controlled as much as it should be. Before opening their mouths they should think of Angie Englisbee, the Anchondos, Thomas McNichols and all of the other victims who died in El Paso and Dayton last weekend.

Their memory should push the nation toward concrete action on curbing gun violence.