ORLANDO, Fla. – One week after two children were killed in a Minnesota church, survivors of mass shootings from across the country gathered in Orlando to share their stories and call for action.
The National Center for Victims of Crime is hosting its National Training Institute this week in Lake Buena Vista, bringing together survivors, advocates and experts for more than 80 trainings aimed at improving how communities respond to victims.
On Thursday, a panel of parents from Parkland, Virginia, and Orlando spoke about the devastating toll of gun violence. Among them was Tim Schmidt, whose son, Tim Schmidt Jr., was killed in downtown Orlando last Halloween.
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“When you say it could happen to anyone, there were 75,000 people out there that night,” Schmidt said. “He was just one of two that took a fatal bullet. And there were many others that got hurt and everybody was impacted because everyone saw it happen. It was just terrifying.”
Before police could notify Schmidt about his son’s death, he saw a video on social media showing his son receiving CPR on the street. He said the pain of that moment still fuels his frustration about the lack of progress in supporting victims and their families.
“There was a gap that didn’t exist before our charity,” Schmidt said, describing his family’s new foundation, which helps cover funeral costs for families of victims of violent crimes. “So being a voice is better than sitting at home being silent.”
Organizers say the goal of the three-day conference is not only to train professionals, but also to amplify the voices of survivors like Schmidt who are turning their grief into advocacy.
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