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At Close Range: A Memoir of Tragedy and Advocacy
Leesa Ross did not expect to write a book. Neither did she expect the tragedy that her family endured, a horrific and sudden death that led her to write At Close Range. Her debut memoir is the story of what happened after her son Jon died in a freak gun accident at a party. Ross unsparingly shares the complexities of grief as it ripples through the generations of her family, then chronicles how the loss of Jon has sparked a new life for her as a prominent advocate for gun safety. Before the accident, Ross never had a motivation to consider the role that guns played in her life. Now, she revisits ways in which guns became a part of everyday life for her three sons and their friends. Ross’s attitude towards guns is thorny. She has collectors and hunters in her family. To balance her advocacy, she joined both Moms Demand Action and the NRA. Through At Close Range, the national conversation about gun control plays out in one family’s catalyzing moment and its aftermath. However, At Close Range ultimately shows one mother’s effort to create meaning from tragedy and find a universally reasonable position and focal gun safety and responsible ownership.
- GenresNonfictionMemoir
192 pages, Hardcover
Published April 2, 2020
22 people want to read
About the author
Leesa Ross
1 book17 followersLeesa Ross is a debut author who’s trans- formed a tragedy into a mission for safety. After losing a son to a shooting accident, she formed Lock Arms for Life, an educational organiza- tion teaching gun safety. A Texas mother of three, she leads Lock Arms, sits on the board of Texas Gun Sense, and belongs to the NRA.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 18, 2021
The role of guns in our society receives mixed thoughts. There are those that think they should be banned and there are those that believe in the right to bear arms. This memoir shows that there can be a balance between the two and it comes down to understanding the power that a gun can hold and being smart and safe using guns.
"I just didn't believe bad things would happen to people like us, people in the bubble. I didn't believe Jon would ever be in a room with an unsecured gun and not enough gun safety to survive."
Leesa dealt with a tragedy that no parent should have to endure, the loss of a child through a gun accident. While the truth about what actually happened that night is still unknown due to mixed stories, the end result is the same, a young man lost his life and that impacted his family and friends. From the book, it seems to have affected Leesa the most, and perhaps that is because these are her words and only impressions of what her husband and sons might be feeling after the accident. Reading her words, I could feel her sorrow as she progressed through the stages of grief. What impressed me is that she didn't try and cover up her own faults and admits to being selfish and feels guilty.
"After something tragic overwhelms your life, it takes a while to determine your guilt. I always look for my guilt when anything goes wrong. Those early days were too soon for me though. I wanted a label for what I believe even while my pain was still fresh."
"I can't fully explain why our marriage survived. I think it was because while I am selfish, Randy isn't."
The majority of this book is about their life as a family, the moves they made from Texas to North Carolina, and the fallout from Jon's death. Leesa didn't agree with the suicide listing on the death certificate and fought to have it changed, to no success. There are some strong facts that would make me question the diagnosis but no one seemed to think her ideas had merit. Her struggle to accept this shines throughout the book. During her period of grief, she realized there was more that she wanted to do but wasn't quite sure where to start. She joined several organizations that sought to educate people on gun safety and how to secure them properly. One of those programs is Be Smart and Leesa was a speaker for this organization. Like any advocacy group, there are those that have extreme views on guns. The following came from a review of their book, but Leesa said it predicted what she was about to experience in her own efforts.
What I came to see is that Moms Demand Action, the leadership group for Be Smart, is an organization where volunteers "are expected to conform to a set of rigid and condescending rules, not ask too many questions or provide constructive criticisms."
It was during her educational discussions that she realized how she wanted to focus her energies, and that was on older children that were outside what Be Smart targeted. I like that her presentations were about safety and how to ensure that people did not have to go through the pain of losing someone to a gun accident. She created six pillars to educate on gun safety and even created a pledge for young people to sign. She made an impact on those she spoke to and made a difference in their lives by reframing how they think about guns and their safety. I appreciate that she is not trying to stop people from owning guns, just to be safe around them and how they are handled, and for opening the door for parents to have conversations about gun safety with their children.
This book can be a hard one for some to read, especially if they lost someone due to a gun accident, but I think that most will be able to relate to Leesa and what she endured and how she processed her grief. It sends a strong message and the story is not prettied up to make everyone feel good because this is not a feel good story. But it is a story with a message that any reader should be able to obtain after reading this book.
We give the book 4 paws up and will send readers down the path and look at their own lives and what are they doing to educate on gun safety.
"I just didn't believe bad things would happen to people like us, people in the bubble. I didn't believe Jon would ever be in a room with an unsecured gun and not enough gun safety to survive."
Leesa dealt with a tragedy that no parent should have to endure, the loss of a child through a gun accident. While the truth about what actually happened that night is still unknown due to mixed stories, the end result is the same, a young man lost his life and that impacted his family and friends. From the book, it seems to have affected Leesa the most, and perhaps that is because these are her words and only impressions of what her husband and sons might be feeling after the accident. Reading her words, I could feel her sorrow as she progressed through the stages of grief. What impressed me is that she didn't try and cover up her own faults and admits to being selfish and feels guilty.
"After something tragic overwhelms your life, it takes a while to determine your guilt. I always look for my guilt when anything goes wrong. Those early days were too soon for me though. I wanted a label for what I believe even while my pain was still fresh."
"I can't fully explain why our marriage survived. I think it was because while I am selfish, Randy isn't."
The majority of this book is about their life as a family, the moves they made from Texas to North Carolina, and the fallout from Jon's death. Leesa didn't agree with the suicide listing on the death certificate and fought to have it changed, to no success. There are some strong facts that would make me question the diagnosis but no one seemed to think her ideas had merit. Her struggle to accept this shines throughout the book. During her period of grief, she realized there was more that she wanted to do but wasn't quite sure where to start. She joined several organizations that sought to educate people on gun safety and how to secure them properly. One of those programs is Be Smart and Leesa was a speaker for this organization. Like any advocacy group, there are those that have extreme views on guns. The following came from a review of their book, but Leesa said it predicted what she was about to experience in her own efforts.
What I came to see is that Moms Demand Action, the leadership group for Be Smart, is an organization where volunteers "are expected to conform to a set of rigid and condescending rules, not ask too many questions or provide constructive criticisms."
It was during her educational discussions that she realized how she wanted to focus her energies, and that was on older children that were outside what Be Smart targeted. I like that her presentations were about safety and how to ensure that people did not have to go through the pain of losing someone to a gun accident. She created six pillars to educate on gun safety and even created a pledge for young people to sign. She made an impact on those she spoke to and made a difference in their lives by reframing how they think about guns and their safety. I appreciate that she is not trying to stop people from owning guns, just to be safe around them and how they are handled, and for opening the door for parents to have conversations about gun safety with their children.
This book can be a hard one for some to read, especially if they lost someone due to a gun accident, but I think that most will be able to relate to Leesa and what she endured and how she processed her grief. It sends a strong message and the story is not prettied up to make everyone feel good because this is not a feel good story. But it is a story with a message that any reader should be able to obtain after reading this book.
We give the book 4 paws up and will send readers down the path and look at their own lives and what are they doing to educate on gun safety.
February 16, 2021
So much pain. So many questions. So little forgiveness. In AT CLOSE RANGE, Leesa Ross takes readers along on the horrendous journey that no parent should ever have to take, but one which too many have, and must continue to take: the death of a child by gunshot wound. In her open and bluntly honest memoir, Ross’s grief is palpable, her desperation washing over the reader.
Perhaps it’s inappropriate given the topic of the book, but I’m going to go there and point out that it was the cover of AT CLOSE RANGE that sold me on reading it. The jacket design is eye-catching and alluring, even to someone like me who doesn’t own a gun, doesn’t like guns, wouldn’t care if they were all wiped from the planet. (I know, I’m a native Texan and I said that out loud.) However, I’m realistic and know that guns aren’t going anywhere, and the simple message of the two items on that cover – a gun + lots of padlocks – indicated a story I might be okay reading.
I think most mothers would say they’ve allowed the “what if” thoughts of losing a child to enter their minds, and for me, those dark thoughts are usually sparked by empathy and learning of someone who has lost a child. I don’t want to think about the unthinkable, but when I encounter someone suffering that loss, I can’t help it. Until I read Leesa’s story, I had only thought broadly about gun safety in terms of laws that need to be made and enforced to prevent mass shootings. Like Leesa:
“I never thought to have the new version of The Talk. The one about handguns.”
While there are plenty of things I couldn’t relate to in Ross’s very personal story, I’m a mom, and I’m a mom with my youngest son the same age now as when Leesa’s son, Jon, died. Instant connections. By walking side-by-side as Leesa tries to reconcile something that’s unreconcilable, the reader can’t help but imagine being in her shoes. We never had “The Talk” about handguns with our kids. We don’t own guns, so no need, right? Wrong. All my kids, from ages 23-31, will now have to tolerate another Memo from Mom. It’ll probably be one of those things I preface with telling them I am sure that they know better BUT it’s other people’s actions I worry about. And I’m a grandmother now, so you can bet that I’ll be teaching and preaching to my sweet grandbaby every chance I get.
“Mom, it’s not the gun that killed Jon.”
What’s particularly interesting about Leesa is that after the tragedy that struck her own family, she’s not anti-gun. And neither are her other children; in fact, her second son became a gun collector and very calmly would remind his mom that the gun wasn’t the problem; that it was loaded, and the owner was careless, and Jon was naïve (complacent?) about guns were the problems. This line of thinking is difficult for me, but through those candid conversations within the Ross family, I’ve expanded my understanding about gun lovers and maybe even become a bit more open-minded.
“We have hundreds of pages of safety rules for stepladders, I learned.”
The majority of AT CLOSE RANGE is Leesa’s grief journey, and at times, the hops around the timeline were a little confusing and sometimes repetitious – feeling more like a personal journal than a published memoir. Through every stage of her grief, there’s a constant thread, an almost obsessive compulsion, of the author to find answers about the exact circumstances of Jon’s death. (I know I would have the same obsession.) She often refers to channeling her inner Nancy Drew, and she finds strength and confidence in that role. In her quest to find answers, she ultimately turns her despair into a mission to save lives.
Regrettably, Leesa’s foray into being a gun safety advocate doesn’t get much page time. The gaps in that part of her journey leave me a little unsatisfied. I not only want to know more about getting to the point where Lock Arms for Life was born, I also need a little more time to come out of the fog of despair, to absorb Leesa’s finding her purpose, and to feel hopeful that Leesa’s organization can effect change. Perhaps there’s another book in the works that explores those elements, or perhaps we’re supposed to still ache a bit when we close the cover. After all, it’s not a happy ending.
Thanks to the publisher and Lone Star Literary Life for providing me a hardcover copy in exchange for my honest opinion -- the only kind I give. This full review and more special features on Hall Ways Blog.
Perhaps it’s inappropriate given the topic of the book, but I’m going to go there and point out that it was the cover of AT CLOSE RANGE that sold me on reading it. The jacket design is eye-catching and alluring, even to someone like me who doesn’t own a gun, doesn’t like guns, wouldn’t care if they were all wiped from the planet. (I know, I’m a native Texan and I said that out loud.) However, I’m realistic and know that guns aren’t going anywhere, and the simple message of the two items on that cover – a gun + lots of padlocks – indicated a story I might be okay reading.
I think most mothers would say they’ve allowed the “what if” thoughts of losing a child to enter their minds, and for me, those dark thoughts are usually sparked by empathy and learning of someone who has lost a child. I don’t want to think about the unthinkable, but when I encounter someone suffering that loss, I can’t help it. Until I read Leesa’s story, I had only thought broadly about gun safety in terms of laws that need to be made and enforced to prevent mass shootings. Like Leesa:
“I never thought to have the new version of The Talk. The one about handguns.”
While there are plenty of things I couldn’t relate to in Ross’s very personal story, I’m a mom, and I’m a mom with my youngest son the same age now as when Leesa’s son, Jon, died. Instant connections. By walking side-by-side as Leesa tries to reconcile something that’s unreconcilable, the reader can’t help but imagine being in her shoes. We never had “The Talk” about handguns with our kids. We don’t own guns, so no need, right? Wrong. All my kids, from ages 23-31, will now have to tolerate another Memo from Mom. It’ll probably be one of those things I preface with telling them I am sure that they know better BUT it’s other people’s actions I worry about. And I’m a grandmother now, so you can bet that I’ll be teaching and preaching to my sweet grandbaby every chance I get.
“Mom, it’s not the gun that killed Jon.”
What’s particularly interesting about Leesa is that after the tragedy that struck her own family, she’s not anti-gun. And neither are her other children; in fact, her second son became a gun collector and very calmly would remind his mom that the gun wasn’t the problem; that it was loaded, and the owner was careless, and Jon was naïve (complacent?) about guns were the problems. This line of thinking is difficult for me, but through those candid conversations within the Ross family, I’ve expanded my understanding about gun lovers and maybe even become a bit more open-minded.
“We have hundreds of pages of safety rules for stepladders, I learned.”
The majority of AT CLOSE RANGE is Leesa’s grief journey, and at times, the hops around the timeline were a little confusing and sometimes repetitious – feeling more like a personal journal than a published memoir. Through every stage of her grief, there’s a constant thread, an almost obsessive compulsion, of the author to find answers about the exact circumstances of Jon’s death. (I know I would have the same obsession.) She often refers to channeling her inner Nancy Drew, and she finds strength and confidence in that role. In her quest to find answers, she ultimately turns her despair into a mission to save lives.
Regrettably, Leesa’s foray into being a gun safety advocate doesn’t get much page time. The gaps in that part of her journey leave me a little unsatisfied. I not only want to know more about getting to the point where Lock Arms for Life was born, I also need a little more time to come out of the fog of despair, to absorb Leesa’s finding her purpose, and to feel hopeful that Leesa’s organization can effect change. Perhaps there’s another book in the works that explores those elements, or perhaps we’re supposed to still ache a bit when we close the cover. After all, it’s not a happy ending.
Thanks to the publisher and Lone Star Literary Life for providing me a hardcover copy in exchange for my honest opinion -- the only kind I give. This full review and more special features on Hall Ways Blog.
February 17, 2021
"After something tragic overwhelms your life, it takes a while to determine your guilt."
At Close Range by Leesa Ross is an absolutely heartbreaking account of one mother’s struggle to navigate the unspeakable grief of losing a child and to break down the brick walls of investigative feedback and a coroner’s report that her son died of suicide from a self-inflicted gun-shot wound to the head. Putting things into perspective can be difficult when faced with the fresh wounds of loss, but Leesa refuses to believe her son Jon took his own life. For her, all the evidence pointed to an accidental shooting based on negligence at a friend's house, but getting the coroner to change his report proves to be a daunting and a virtually impossible task.
At Close Range is a grieving mother’s transition through the natural stages following her son’s death, from shock and despair to advocating gun safety. The transition has been long and arduous for Leesa and her family, but it has brought with it a fair amount of healing and the need to share this painful story. Nothing in this book is easy to read because it is both sad, in terms of tragic loss, and controversial, in terms of saying anything about guns. In the current political and social climate, gun control, safety, and advocacy are hot-button topics. If you kick that gun control hornets' nest, be prepared to get stung over and over again. Leesa’s story, however, is not solely about gun control and safety, although her journey has definitely taken her in that direction. At Close Range is also about internalizing the blame and shame that comes from losing a child due to the lack of gun safety and having it labeled as a suicide. Sorting through the avalanche of emotions is Leesa’s burden as she mourns her son and as she dons the investigator hat in her son’s death and seeks the ultimate answer that continues to elude her grasp in the legal quagmire. Leesa firmly believes Jon did not commit suicide, but how do you convince everyone else?
As difficult as this story is to read, it necessarily opens the door for the much-needed questions and conversation about gun control and safety. Leesa Ross and her family are not anti-gun in general, and this story is not about banning or taking away guns but about respecting them, understanding their role in society, and advocating for more awareness and education regarding proper use, storage, and safety. The writing is quite beautiful and honest, filled with raw emotion, anger, love, and hope. Through Leesa's courageous push for enlightenment and her ultimate involvement in gun awareness, this controversial topic is brought to the forefront through a mother's lens. Adults need to talk about guns because the children in their lives will likely find themselves around them at some point, whether at a party, at a friend's house, or in their own home. Leesa needed to tell Jon’s story for her own healing but also to give her son’s life and death meaning and purpose - a legacy for others to learn from and maybe start that conversation with loved ones before another trigger is accidentally pulled.
I received a free copy of this book from Lone Star Book Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.
At Close Range by Leesa Ross is an absolutely heartbreaking account of one mother’s struggle to navigate the unspeakable grief of losing a child and to break down the brick walls of investigative feedback and a coroner’s report that her son died of suicide from a self-inflicted gun-shot wound to the head. Putting things into perspective can be difficult when faced with the fresh wounds of loss, but Leesa refuses to believe her son Jon took his own life. For her, all the evidence pointed to an accidental shooting based on negligence at a friend's house, but getting the coroner to change his report proves to be a daunting and a virtually impossible task.
At Close Range is a grieving mother’s transition through the natural stages following her son’s death, from shock and despair to advocating gun safety. The transition has been long and arduous for Leesa and her family, but it has brought with it a fair amount of healing and the need to share this painful story. Nothing in this book is easy to read because it is both sad, in terms of tragic loss, and controversial, in terms of saying anything about guns. In the current political and social climate, gun control, safety, and advocacy are hot-button topics. If you kick that gun control hornets' nest, be prepared to get stung over and over again. Leesa’s story, however, is not solely about gun control and safety, although her journey has definitely taken her in that direction. At Close Range is also about internalizing the blame and shame that comes from losing a child due to the lack of gun safety and having it labeled as a suicide. Sorting through the avalanche of emotions is Leesa’s burden as she mourns her son and as she dons the investigator hat in her son’s death and seeks the ultimate answer that continues to elude her grasp in the legal quagmire. Leesa firmly believes Jon did not commit suicide, but how do you convince everyone else?
As difficult as this story is to read, it necessarily opens the door for the much-needed questions and conversation about gun control and safety. Leesa Ross and her family are not anti-gun in general, and this story is not about banning or taking away guns but about respecting them, understanding their role in society, and advocating for more awareness and education regarding proper use, storage, and safety. The writing is quite beautiful and honest, filled with raw emotion, anger, love, and hope. Through Leesa's courageous push for enlightenment and her ultimate involvement in gun awareness, this controversial topic is brought to the forefront through a mother's lens. Adults need to talk about guns because the children in their lives will likely find themselves around them at some point, whether at a party, at a friend's house, or in their own home. Leesa needed to tell Jon’s story for her own healing but also to give her son’s life and death meaning and purpose - a legacy for others to learn from and maybe start that conversation with loved ones before another trigger is accidentally pulled.
I received a free copy of this book from Lone Star Book Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.
February 16, 2021
At Close Range: A Memoir of Tragedy and Advocacy by Leesa Ross is a sobering story of loss and the choices a person can make after. In typical fashion, I did not read the summaries or blurbs before reading this book, so I will be addressing the many assumptions that I made in addition to my thoughts on the writing specifically. First of all, I assumed that this book was written by a mother who lost a small child in one of the terrible school shootings that have happened in our country. It is not; but that does not make the story any less tragic.
As the mother of an 8-year-old boy, I know that even when my son has grown taller than me and possibly has children of his own, I will always want to protect him. And God forbid if anything ever happened to him, I would want answers and maybe even look for meaning behind it all. It is never the right time to lose someone you love. Ross lost her first-born son just as he was turning over a new leaf. For a young man in his early 20s, Jon contained thoughts and artistic abilities that the people in his life did not understand. So when his life is ended, presumably with his own hand, the authorities are quick to call it a suicide.
Ross’s choice to recreate the scene in the first chapter was unexpected and powerful. I don’t know how much of it was accurate, but it really gave me the sense that the author knew her son in a way that many parents who live in a completely different state do not know their own children. No one knows what Jon’s state of mind was, but this opening definitely underlines the feeling that everything that transpired next was not premeditated. If this were my own story, I can tell you that this would have quickly become an investigation rather than an advocacy message.
The author’s writing style is clean and easy to follow. There were a few passages where it seemed an idea or even a whole paragraph was echoed pages later. But otherwise, the writing and editing were solid. While the tone switches between emotional and factual, the strength behind the words is ever present. I am in awe of Ross’s ability to stand up and seek change to protect others from pain like hers. If this book is an indication of her oratory skills, I am sure that she is educating so many people and making a real difference in their lives.
I recommend this book to people who have children or young people in their lives. I like the idea of having “The New Talk” about gun safety. I only wish that there was a resource page within it. Although, to be fair, it is easy enough to simply look for Lock Arms for Life and Texas Gun Sense online. I think that this book would also be a good gift to someone you care about who does not take gun safety seriously. Unfortunately, I think many of us can think of at least one person like this. Perhaps this book can be a safe conversation starter.
As the mother of an 8-year-old boy, I know that even when my son has grown taller than me and possibly has children of his own, I will always want to protect him. And God forbid if anything ever happened to him, I would want answers and maybe even look for meaning behind it all. It is never the right time to lose someone you love. Ross lost her first-born son just as he was turning over a new leaf. For a young man in his early 20s, Jon contained thoughts and artistic abilities that the people in his life did not understand. So when his life is ended, presumably with his own hand, the authorities are quick to call it a suicide.
Ross’s choice to recreate the scene in the first chapter was unexpected and powerful. I don’t know how much of it was accurate, but it really gave me the sense that the author knew her son in a way that many parents who live in a completely different state do not know their own children. No one knows what Jon’s state of mind was, but this opening definitely underlines the feeling that everything that transpired next was not premeditated. If this were my own story, I can tell you that this would have quickly become an investigation rather than an advocacy message.
The author’s writing style is clean and easy to follow. There were a few passages where it seemed an idea or even a whole paragraph was echoed pages later. But otherwise, the writing and editing were solid. While the tone switches between emotional and factual, the strength behind the words is ever present. I am in awe of Ross’s ability to stand up and seek change to protect others from pain like hers. If this book is an indication of her oratory skills, I am sure that she is educating so many people and making a real difference in their lives.
I recommend this book to people who have children or young people in their lives. I like the idea of having “The New Talk” about gun safety. I only wish that there was a resource page within it. Although, to be fair, it is easy enough to simply look for Lock Arms for Life and Texas Gun Sense online. I think that this book would also be a good gift to someone you care about who does not take gun safety seriously. Unfortunately, I think many of us can think of at least one person like this. Perhaps this book can be a safe conversation starter.
February 18, 2021
At Close Range is a story about a mother’s loss and fury, and ultimately how those emotions are transformed into something meaningful and positive. I would not consider this a story of redemption. Rather, I consider it a story about a path to activism that I do not wish on anyone.
If you read the synopsis, you’ll know what the story is about - but what you won’t know unless you read the book is the dogged strength this mother portrayed as she investigated her own son’s death, and then recreated her personal boundaries to give a voice to her anguish that would lead her to being a sought-after gun safety advocate.
The message this author wants to convey is clear, yet her writing brings an energy to the table that I hope will turn into action for parents and educators. I think that’s why she told this story to the world.
I admire her willingness to revisit the traumatic emotions she experienced following the death of her oldest son to a lack of basic gun safety. I think she did a great job of communicating her raw thoughts and emotions. I doubt that was very easy for her to do, but I’m glad she persevered.
The book is a short read, yet it is thoroughly engaging. I couldn’t help but empathize through most of the story. I imagine that the author’s position on gun safety - not to be confused with gun control - could have mixed reactions from readers. However, I think there is a valuable lesson for everyone within these pages, regardless of which side of the gun control fence you call home.
I highly recommend this book to all parents and all educators. I don’t think anyone is too young or too old to learn this message.
If you read the synopsis, you’ll know what the story is about - but what you won’t know unless you read the book is the dogged strength this mother portrayed as she investigated her own son’s death, and then recreated her personal boundaries to give a voice to her anguish that would lead her to being a sought-after gun safety advocate.
The message this author wants to convey is clear, yet her writing brings an energy to the table that I hope will turn into action for parents and educators. I think that’s why she told this story to the world.
I admire her willingness to revisit the traumatic emotions she experienced following the death of her oldest son to a lack of basic gun safety. I think she did a great job of communicating her raw thoughts and emotions. I doubt that was very easy for her to do, but I’m glad she persevered.
The book is a short read, yet it is thoroughly engaging. I couldn’t help but empathize through most of the story. I imagine that the author’s position on gun safety - not to be confused with gun control - could have mixed reactions from readers. However, I think there is a valuable lesson for everyone within these pages, regardless of which side of the gun control fence you call home.
I highly recommend this book to all parents and all educators. I don’t think anyone is too young or too old to learn this message.
February 20, 2021
Let’s start with the cover of this book. Fortunately I was provided with a hard copy. With this cover, it made all the difference. The detailed locks creating a handgun drew my eyes and my brain quickly followed with curiosity. Here is a message for the reader even before they crack the cover.
This is a detailed and heart-tugging story that, as a mother, I could identify with on so many levels. The author’s angst and endless variety of feelings were mostly ones I could imagine myself feeling or asking the same questions.
While I do not agree with all of the author's perspectives, I do respect her way of dealing with the horrific episode in her family’s life. I too feel like I do not align with the majority of the pro- or anti-gun organizations and felt comradery as the author tried to find her place after the death of her son.
Leesa Ross walks the reader through about a year in her life after her son dies. She also spends a bit of time giving us background on the family, events and specifically the life of her son Jon. This is not an easy or simple read, but it definitely is a different aspect than I have read in books of similar events. I would highly suggest keeping an open mind and considering this author’s viewpoint. She makes a lot of logical sense on an idea that could help parents prepare their children for a world where guns are part of the norm for many people.
This is a detailed and heart-tugging story that, as a mother, I could identify with on so many levels. The author’s angst and endless variety of feelings were mostly ones I could imagine myself feeling or asking the same questions.
While I do not agree with all of the author's perspectives, I do respect her way of dealing with the horrific episode in her family’s life. I too feel like I do not align with the majority of the pro- or anti-gun organizations and felt comradery as the author tried to find her place after the death of her son.
Leesa Ross walks the reader through about a year in her life after her son dies. She also spends a bit of time giving us background on the family, events and specifically the life of her son Jon. This is not an easy or simple read, but it definitely is a different aspect than I have read in books of similar events. I would highly suggest keeping an open mind and considering this author’s viewpoint. She makes a lot of logical sense on an idea that could help parents prepare their children for a world where guns are part of the norm for many people.
February 10, 2021
At Close Range was at the forefront a memoir. This story follows a mother processing her grief by revisiting moments in her child's life, questioning and coming to terms with the fact that sometimes life doesn't make sense. There were a mix of stories incorporated from both before and after the tragedy as she looks for red flags and examines her guilt.
The reader gets to witness this mother going through each stage of grief from denial, thinking her oldest was the least likely to be in that situation and that changing the diagnosed "suicide" might make the loss hurt less, to that denial transforming to anger when confronting the police and coroners. She moved to bargaining with herself in her blame that maybe this fell on her and that she could have done more. Then became withdrawn and depressed not knowing how to socialize and talk about her surviving sons anymore and finally accepting that past and attending her first advocacy walk.
Every story she told was a step closer to finding her voice. She made a rainbow from the rain. Her journey in her advocacy was not brought in until the last chapter or two and I wish it held a bigger presence. Leesa is in such a unique situation being pro-gun but also advocating safety and awareness. I would have loved to learn more about her growing, evolving advocacy work and more about her roadblocks and progress she has made since those initial speaking arrangements.
At Close Range is an extremely personal story. Leesa opens up with all her fears and worries and leaves it all on the table. This must be an extremely comforting book for those who have been through similar situations knowing they are not alone. Although this story does revolve around gun violence, it respectfully does so at a distance, not going into grave detail on the specifics of the accident. Thank you Leesa for baring your soul and bringing awareness to gun accidents.
Thank you Lonestar Literary Life for the free review copy of this book.
The reader gets to witness this mother going through each stage of grief from denial, thinking her oldest was the least likely to be in that situation and that changing the diagnosed "suicide" might make the loss hurt less, to that denial transforming to anger when confronting the police and coroners. She moved to bargaining with herself in her blame that maybe this fell on her and that she could have done more. Then became withdrawn and depressed not knowing how to socialize and talk about her surviving sons anymore and finally accepting that past and attending her first advocacy walk.
Every story she told was a step closer to finding her voice. She made a rainbow from the rain. Her journey in her advocacy was not brought in until the last chapter or two and I wish it held a bigger presence. Leesa is in such a unique situation being pro-gun but also advocating safety and awareness. I would have loved to learn more about her growing, evolving advocacy work and more about her roadblocks and progress she has made since those initial speaking arrangements.
At Close Range is an extremely personal story. Leesa opens up with all her fears and worries and leaves it all on the table. This must be an extremely comforting book for those who have been through similar situations knowing they are not alone. Although this story does revolve around gun violence, it respectfully does so at a distance, not going into grave detail on the specifics of the accident. Thank you Leesa for baring your soul and bringing awareness to gun accidents.
Thank you Lonestar Literary Life for the free review copy of this book.
February 19, 2021
At Close Range is Leesa Ross’ gut-wrenching story of the shooting death of her son, Jon. Jon was a young adult at the time he died, in his 20s. The account Leesa received from Jon’s friends who were there when it happened pointed to a horrific accident due to negligence, but the coroner ruled otherwise. In his eyes, it was a self-inflicted gunshot wound not inconsistent with suicide. That verdict was unacceptable to Leesa.
In At Close Range, Leesa paints a portrait of a family that, while not without their challenges, was a close family for the most part. She knew her children well, even if they weren’t all under the same roof any longer. And she knew that Jon didn’t kill himself intentionally. It wasn’t suicide. But how could she convince the coroner to change his ruling? Could she convince him to change it? And how would the process of losing her son change her?
Leesa’s writing style is straightforward and easy to read, and she does a good job of bringing the reader into the story. I wanted to reach into the pages and hug her as she struggled with the grief of losing her son while still trying to be a wife and mother. I wanted to tear my hair in frustration as she tried repeatedly to convince a coroner who’d made up his mind that he was interpreting the facts in a way she couldn’t abide.
This was not an easy book to read. Like Leesa’s family, my family always had guns around when I was growing up. My father was a hunter, and he had several rifles in the house. I learned how to shoot a .22 when I was just a kid, out on the deer lease. Many of my friends had parents who hunted, and it wasn’t uncommon when I was in high school to see multiple trucks in the parking lot with deer rifles mounted on racks. Sure, I grew up learning that a gun wasn’t a toy, and that I should never point at anything I didn’t intend to shoot. But accidents can happen to anyone, as Leesa’s words so clearly illustrate.
It was also hard to read how much Leesa wrestled with her own guilt and shame. Wondering could she have missed some clue. Worried what people would think about them when they heard the coroner’s verdict. Hard enough to handle the grief of your child’s death. How much more painful to have anxiety over what people will think about the way he died, to anguish over what they will now think of you as a parent.
But ultimately, the story is one of inspiration. Leesa let her hurt and anger and sadness move her toward a role as an advocate for gun safety. She uses this book to share what she has learned through her experiences with the rest of us. I hope this book spurs conversations about guns and gun safety for anyone with children, be they young or young adult.
In At Close Range, Leesa paints a portrait of a family that, while not without their challenges, was a close family for the most part. She knew her children well, even if they weren’t all under the same roof any longer. And she knew that Jon didn’t kill himself intentionally. It wasn’t suicide. But how could she convince the coroner to change his ruling? Could she convince him to change it? And how would the process of losing her son change her?
Leesa’s writing style is straightforward and easy to read, and she does a good job of bringing the reader into the story. I wanted to reach into the pages and hug her as she struggled with the grief of losing her son while still trying to be a wife and mother. I wanted to tear my hair in frustration as she tried repeatedly to convince a coroner who’d made up his mind that he was interpreting the facts in a way she couldn’t abide.
This was not an easy book to read. Like Leesa’s family, my family always had guns around when I was growing up. My father was a hunter, and he had several rifles in the house. I learned how to shoot a .22 when I was just a kid, out on the deer lease. Many of my friends had parents who hunted, and it wasn’t uncommon when I was in high school to see multiple trucks in the parking lot with deer rifles mounted on racks. Sure, I grew up learning that a gun wasn’t a toy, and that I should never point at anything I didn’t intend to shoot. But accidents can happen to anyone, as Leesa’s words so clearly illustrate.
It was also hard to read how much Leesa wrestled with her own guilt and shame. Wondering could she have missed some clue. Worried what people would think about them when they heard the coroner’s verdict. Hard enough to handle the grief of your child’s death. How much more painful to have anxiety over what people will think about the way he died, to anguish over what they will now think of you as a parent.
But ultimately, the story is one of inspiration. Leesa let her hurt and anger and sadness move her toward a role as an advocate for gun safety. She uses this book to share what she has learned through her experiences with the rest of us. I hope this book spurs conversations about guns and gun safety for anyone with children, be they young or young adult.
February 24, 2021
I read this book, At Close Range, a week ago. Now, like Leesa Ross my mind is now constantly swirling with “What if?” scenarios. See, I am someone who believes that instead of taking guns away from people, that we NEED to start teaching gun safety in schools right alongside the other ‘talks’ that Leesa Ross mentioned. I mean seriously, we talk about everything else under the sun with our kids, but this one subject we tend to stay away from. However, Leesa Ross is trying to change some of that so what happened to her son, does not happen to yours.
“Our first target can be talking about it, so that the lesson might come before the tragedy —and not after.”
Leesa Ross does a lovely job of letting us see the up close and personal side effects of people not being careful with their weapons. It is a tragic story, and it was avoidable. Yet, Leesa Ross and her family were irrevocably changed by one small projectile left unchecked; and as she laid out her story, I was left with the overwhelming feeling of bittersweet gratitude.
She brought to life her son Jon, and glimpses of the rest of her family too; it is hard to imagine the emotions of the rest of her family during this time. I enjoyed the poems she shared, and I was glad that she was bravely honest in her emotions and actions while telling this story. It gave me a look at what a person really goes through when tragedy strikes unexpectedly.
The flow of the writing was a back-and-forth timeline of events unfolding, parts of it almost echoing in different spots as Leesa Ross told her story. The advertised purpose of this book is advocacy toward gun safety and while thinly hinted at here and there, it really was not talked about until the last quarter of the book in a true sense. Which I thought sad (although maybe it is being left for another book? Uhem, hint, hint) as I would really like to know more about how Leesa Ross got involved with Lock Arms for Life.
At Close Range was and is one woman’s journey toward trying to find answers, a purpose, and learning what to believe. I am glad I read it and I am looking forward to learning more about Leesa Ross and how I can get involved with Lock Arms for Life. 4 out of 5 stars overall.
*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.
“Our first target can be talking about it, so that the lesson might come before the tragedy —and not after.”
Leesa Ross does a lovely job of letting us see the up close and personal side effects of people not being careful with their weapons. It is a tragic story, and it was avoidable. Yet, Leesa Ross and her family were irrevocably changed by one small projectile left unchecked; and as she laid out her story, I was left with the overwhelming feeling of bittersweet gratitude.
She brought to life her son Jon, and glimpses of the rest of her family too; it is hard to imagine the emotions of the rest of her family during this time. I enjoyed the poems she shared, and I was glad that she was bravely honest in her emotions and actions while telling this story. It gave me a look at what a person really goes through when tragedy strikes unexpectedly.
The flow of the writing was a back-and-forth timeline of events unfolding, parts of it almost echoing in different spots as Leesa Ross told her story. The advertised purpose of this book is advocacy toward gun safety and while thinly hinted at here and there, it really was not talked about until the last quarter of the book in a true sense. Which I thought sad (although maybe it is being left for another book? Uhem, hint, hint) as I would really like to know more about how Leesa Ross got involved with Lock Arms for Life.
At Close Range was and is one woman’s journey toward trying to find answers, a purpose, and learning what to believe. I am glad I read it and I am looking forward to learning more about Leesa Ross and how I can get involved with Lock Arms for Life. 4 out of 5 stars overall.
*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.
February 25, 2021
People deal with grief in many different ways. I know this from my work as a hospital chaplain when I facilitated grief support groups, and the one truth about grief is there is no right or wrong way to handle it.
I admire Leesa Ross for how she channeled her grief into action. When I first heard about this book I thought about the protagonist in one of my books (One Small Victory) who is modeled after a real person who also lost a son. That woman used the emotional energy from her grief to push her way onto a drug task force to help bring down a major drug supplier in her small town.
While the circumstances of the losses these two women experienced are different, and the activism is different, there’s something so powerful that resonates with me, as a mother and as someone who flails against windmills. I admire Leesa Ross for how she channeled her grief into action, and I also admire her for writing a book that is so important.
I’ve written about gun violence, and the one message that experts who own guns, sell guns, and promote gun ownership, is the importance of gun safety.
GUN SAFETY. Can’t say that loud enough.
It is so nice to see how Leesa Ross is promoting that through her book and Lock Arms For Life . I admire her strength and tenacity in pushing through to get the real reason for her son’s death officially recorded, as well as starting the gun safety programs. I also enjoyed getting to know her beyond that as a woman and a mother. I had to smile when I read about her superstitions. “I pay attention to the cracks in the sidewalks. I touched the roof of my car when driving over a railroad track, and I avoid snatching up those tails-up pennies in the street.”
Those are superstitious actions that I remember from my childhood. My mother always told me, “See a penny pick it up and all the day you’ll have good luck.” But I didn’t know that I shouldn’t pick up the penny if it was on the ground tails up. I will be paying more attention from now on. 🙂
This book is very easy to read even though the subject matter is heavy, but the author has presented it in a very engaging manner. The reader gets to know her son, Jon, who died from the accidental gunshot wound, as well as her husband and other family members and friends. By the end of the book I had become very attached to those people much like I do to characters in a wonderful novel.
I admire Leesa Ross for how she channeled her grief into action. When I first heard about this book I thought about the protagonist in one of my books (One Small Victory) who is modeled after a real person who also lost a son. That woman used the emotional energy from her grief to push her way onto a drug task force to help bring down a major drug supplier in her small town.
While the circumstances of the losses these two women experienced are different, and the activism is different, there’s something so powerful that resonates with me, as a mother and as someone who flails against windmills. I admire Leesa Ross for how she channeled her grief into action, and I also admire her for writing a book that is so important.
I’ve written about gun violence, and the one message that experts who own guns, sell guns, and promote gun ownership, is the importance of gun safety.
GUN SAFETY. Can’t say that loud enough.
It is so nice to see how Leesa Ross is promoting that through her book and Lock Arms For Life . I admire her strength and tenacity in pushing through to get the real reason for her son’s death officially recorded, as well as starting the gun safety programs. I also enjoyed getting to know her beyond that as a woman and a mother. I had to smile when I read about her superstitions. “I pay attention to the cracks in the sidewalks. I touched the roof of my car when driving over a railroad track, and I avoid snatching up those tails-up pennies in the street.”
Those are superstitious actions that I remember from my childhood. My mother always told me, “See a penny pick it up and all the day you’ll have good luck.” But I didn’t know that I shouldn’t pick up the penny if it was on the ground tails up. I will be paying more attention from now on. 🙂
This book is very easy to read even though the subject matter is heavy, but the author has presented it in a very engaging manner. The reader gets to know her son, Jon, who died from the accidental gunshot wound, as well as her husband and other family members and friends. By the end of the book I had become very attached to those people much like I do to characters in a wonderful novel.
February 22, 2021
At Close Range should be read by everyone that wants to do something about the huge issue in our country regarding guns. I say this because the author takes a stand that the entire country could get behind regardless of whether or not they own a gun, belong to the NRA, or want every gun removed from personal ownership. The stand is a simple one that has the potential to save hundreds of lives without removing a single gun. Educate. Educate the entire populace on gun safety.
This is probably the most honest memoir I have ever read. Leesa Ross makes herself completely vulnerable as she shares her story of the death of her son. Leesa is the mother of three boys and Jon, her oldest, died from a gun accident while he was in high school.
In the book, Lessa reveals the facts as she knows them of what actually happened as well as the emotional rollercoaster she has experienced from the day it happened until now. Losing a child is never easy under any circumstance and even reading about the loss of a child is hard. Leesa managed to take a huge personal tragedy and turn it into a crusade to teach gun safety to children. Leesa is from Texas where guns are everywhere and are always a controversial subject but she is not out to take away any guns, she is trying to make sure that everyone is educated in gun safety, a worthwhile cause for sure. She does a terrific job of taking a middle-of-the-road position on guns.
This is probably the most honest memoir I have ever read. Leesa Ross makes herself completely vulnerable as she shares her story of the death of her son. Leesa is the mother of three boys and Jon, her oldest, died from a gun accident while he was in high school.
In the book, Lessa reveals the facts as she knows them of what actually happened as well as the emotional rollercoaster she has experienced from the day it happened until now. Losing a child is never easy under any circumstance and even reading about the loss of a child is hard. Leesa managed to take a huge personal tragedy and turn it into a crusade to teach gun safety to children. Leesa is from Texas where guns are everywhere and are always a controversial subject but she is not out to take away any guns, she is trying to make sure that everyone is educated in gun safety, a worthwhile cause for sure. She does a terrific job of taking a middle-of-the-road position on guns.
February 26, 2021
Before reading At Close Range, I had two preconceptions: One, this is a memoir. And two, this is a book about guns and gun violence. Memoirs are not a favorite genre of mine. And the pacifist in me is certainly anti-gun. Or at least no guns for me. (I live by the you do you philosophy.) But honestly, this book is much more about a mother and family dealing with loss and grief than gun violence per se.
Ms. Ross is candid and brutally honest in her writing, giving the readers an unvarnished picture of her family, including drug use and a stint in rehab. Ms. Ross puts her grief into action by tracking down the mystery of Jon's accident. I imagine I would be the same. The activity helps with the healing. Or at least with the distracting. While searching for answers and interviewing witnesses, Ms. Ross starts begins heal.
Two of the most interesting chapters for me are "The New Talk" and "Boys and Guns". As for "The New Talk", Ms. Ross advocates for discussing gun safety with kids, while also having other difficult conversations with your kids. This is a valid point for me. No one sat me down and had any kind of conversations about how to be safe around guns. Granted, I've never wanted to pick up one. But I can certainly see a curious kid picking up a gun to play with it. And teaching kids how to be safe around guns is teaching them to be good citizens. As Ms. Ross states:
"there will always be bad people and we will never be completely safe. But learning to create a climate of trust and a plan of action, and by educating our children, we might save lives."
Which leads me to the chapter of "Boys and Guns". I haven't spent a lot of time thinking about all the guns kids play with. Water guns. Nerf guns. Guns in video games. We certainly perpetuate gun culture in our society. But this chapter is more about how Ms. Ross accepts her son Lance's collecting of guns after Jon's death. But it's through Lance that we see it's possible to be safe around guns if we want to. (We'll leave the discussion of guns being "boys' toys" for a later date.)
While Ms. Ross's writing style is conversational and easy to read, the non-linear time line in chapters was a challenge for me. I would be reading one section about Ms. Ross's children when they were young, then all the sudden it was years after Jon's death. These transitions were jarring. I would be connecting to one scene and then be taken out of that scene completely in the next section of the novel. Maybe this is typical of the memoir genre and I'm simply not used to these novels?
Sometimes it's worth challenging ourselves and reading outside of our comfort zone. I survived, and even more, appreciated, reading a memoir about grief. But now I'm rethinking ever giving a gun to a kid as a present, even a fake one.
Ms. Ross is candid and brutally honest in her writing, giving the readers an unvarnished picture of her family, including drug use and a stint in rehab. Ms. Ross puts her grief into action by tracking down the mystery of Jon's accident. I imagine I would be the same. The activity helps with the healing. Or at least with the distracting. While searching for answers and interviewing witnesses, Ms. Ross starts begins heal.
Two of the most interesting chapters for me are "The New Talk" and "Boys and Guns". As for "The New Talk", Ms. Ross advocates for discussing gun safety with kids, while also having other difficult conversations with your kids. This is a valid point for me. No one sat me down and had any kind of conversations about how to be safe around guns. Granted, I've never wanted to pick up one. But I can certainly see a curious kid picking up a gun to play with it. And teaching kids how to be safe around guns is teaching them to be good citizens. As Ms. Ross states:
"there will always be bad people and we will never be completely safe. But learning to create a climate of trust and a plan of action, and by educating our children, we might save lives."
Which leads me to the chapter of "Boys and Guns". I haven't spent a lot of time thinking about all the guns kids play with. Water guns. Nerf guns. Guns in video games. We certainly perpetuate gun culture in our society. But this chapter is more about how Ms. Ross accepts her son Lance's collecting of guns after Jon's death. But it's through Lance that we see it's possible to be safe around guns if we want to. (We'll leave the discussion of guns being "boys' toys" for a later date.)
While Ms. Ross's writing style is conversational and easy to read, the non-linear time line in chapters was a challenge for me. I would be reading one section about Ms. Ross's children when they were young, then all the sudden it was years after Jon's death. These transitions were jarring. I would be connecting to one scene and then be taken out of that scene completely in the next section of the novel. Maybe this is typical of the memoir genre and I'm simply not used to these novels?
Sometimes it's worth challenging ourselves and reading outside of our comfort zone. I survived, and even more, appreciated, reading a memoir about grief. But now I'm rethinking ever giving a gun to a kid as a present, even a fake one.
February 25, 2021
Rolling to 4.5 Stars
There is no mistaking that guns are a pivotal talking point for many of us. The recent book I read At Close Range is a book with many pivotal points.
At Close Range is a memoir about a mother turning tragedy into advocacy around a subject that is highly controversial and polarizing on both sides of the fence.
The first time I shot a gun I was six years old. From that moment on I knew guns were not to be played with in any form. That shooting of a gun came after my dad’s best friend committed suicide. When I graduated from high school, my dad gave me a .22 pistol which I always carried in my car. The gun’s purpose was there in case I ever needed the gun for protection during my long travels. Thankfully, I never had to use it.
Author, Leesa Ross wrote a heart-rendering point-of-view memoir on a tragic accident that claimed the life of her oldest son. While this book is very introspective on a personal level the writing took me on her journey of creating something positive from the tragedy. This book details the shooting, back story, and present and future moments.
This memoir took me on an emotional roller coaster. It is gut-wrenching for anyone who has been affected by a gun-related loss. It is thought-provoking for those who believe that guns are a constitutional right. I whole-heartedly agree with Leesa that education is key and that is the main message that I take away from her memoir. Just like with Driver’s Education, teenagers need the option of educating themselves about guns and gun safety. While guns are not for everyone, that educational option should be available to the teens that want to learn. I cannot imagine not growing up understanding guns.
What I wish the book had was at least one photo of Jon or maybe even a photo of the family. On a side note – I wonder if the author had requested a Freedom of Information request if it would have been approved by the police department in North Carolina. I think that is the toughest thing for me reading this book is the lack of answers. I whole-heartedly admire Leesa for trying to find those answers, make sense of what she was given, and move on with her life.
This exceptionally eloquent book is a perfect conversation starter for parents, teachers, and teenagers, and kids.
There is no mistaking that guns are a pivotal talking point for many of us. The recent book I read At Close Range is a book with many pivotal points.
At Close Range is a memoir about a mother turning tragedy into advocacy around a subject that is highly controversial and polarizing on both sides of the fence.
The first time I shot a gun I was six years old. From that moment on I knew guns were not to be played with in any form. That shooting of a gun came after my dad’s best friend committed suicide. When I graduated from high school, my dad gave me a .22 pistol which I always carried in my car. The gun’s purpose was there in case I ever needed the gun for protection during my long travels. Thankfully, I never had to use it.
Author, Leesa Ross wrote a heart-rendering point-of-view memoir on a tragic accident that claimed the life of her oldest son. While this book is very introspective on a personal level the writing took me on her journey of creating something positive from the tragedy. This book details the shooting, back story, and present and future moments.
This memoir took me on an emotional roller coaster. It is gut-wrenching for anyone who has been affected by a gun-related loss. It is thought-provoking for those who believe that guns are a constitutional right. I whole-heartedly agree with Leesa that education is key and that is the main message that I take away from her memoir. Just like with Driver’s Education, teenagers need the option of educating themselves about guns and gun safety. While guns are not for everyone, that educational option should be available to the teens that want to learn. I cannot imagine not growing up understanding guns.
What I wish the book had was at least one photo of Jon or maybe even a photo of the family. On a side note – I wonder if the author had requested a Freedom of Information request if it would have been approved by the police department in North Carolina. I think that is the toughest thing for me reading this book is the lack of answers. I whole-heartedly admire Leesa for trying to find those answers, make sense of what she was given, and move on with her life.
This exceptionally eloquent book is a perfect conversation starter for parents, teachers, and teenagers, and kids.
February 28, 2021
Featured on Lone Star Book Blog Tours. Lone Star Blogger Team average rating: 4.3 stars.
June 2, 2020
Leesa Ross has written a compelling memoir about the personal gun tragedy that shattered her life. A parent’s worst nightmare is to lose a child; Leesa lost her young adult son in an accidental shooting.
As an activist working for gun reform, a mother of sons, and also married to a gun owner, I applaud Leesa’s courage and honesty as she shared her pain of losing a son in such a horrific tragedy.
I admire her ability to transfer her pain from such a terrible event to becoming an activist for gun safety. Before reading her book, I knew that gun safety is part of responsible gun ownership, but I’ve now recognized what an extremely important preventive measure it is; especially living in a state where guns are introduced to many in childhood. It’s commendable that she goes to schools and colleges to educate students on gun safety; her work will clearly save lives.
Leesa’s book addresses the issues of living in ingrained gun culture and having loved ones who own guns. It brings to light how we can find commonalities with gun owners and work together towards sensible gun reform.
At Close Range: A Memoir of Tragedy and Advocacy is due to be published in May 2020 by Texas Tech University Press. I highly recommend it to glimpse the unseen dark consequences of gun culture.
As an activist working for gun reform, a mother of sons, and also married to a gun owner, I applaud Leesa’s courage and honesty as she shared her pain of losing a son in such a horrific tragedy.
I admire her ability to transfer her pain from such a terrible event to becoming an activist for gun safety. Before reading her book, I knew that gun safety is part of responsible gun ownership, but I’ve now recognized what an extremely important preventive measure it is; especially living in a state where guns are introduced to many in childhood. It’s commendable that she goes to schools and colleges to educate students on gun safety; her work will clearly save lives.
Leesa’s book addresses the issues of living in ingrained gun culture and having loved ones who own guns. It brings to light how we can find commonalities with gun owners and work together towards sensible gun reform.
At Close Range: A Memoir of Tragedy and Advocacy is due to be published in May 2020 by Texas Tech University Press. I highly recommend it to glimpse the unseen dark consequences of gun culture.
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