Talk to Family and Friends

Know your “why.”

Before you begin, take time to reflect on what brought you to this issue. This is your foundation.

Ask yourself:

• Why does ending gun violence matter to me personally?
• What experiences shaped my sense of safety and justice?
• What do I hope my family will take away from this conversation?

When you know your “why,” you can speak with conviction without becoming defensive. It helps you stay centered when emotions rise and ensures the conversation reflects your values.

Example: “I got involved with March For Our Lives because I’m tired of seeing my generation grow up afraid. I believe we deserve to live without that fear.”

Your story is powerful. Lead with it.

Create the conditions for real conversation.

Pick a moment when people are calm and open. Avoid times when tensions are high or distractions are present. Tone and timing matter as much as words.

Begin from shared humanity: “We both care about safety and community. I’d love to talk about what that looks like for each of us.”

Be curious. Ask questions to understand where they are coming from instead of immediately correcting them.

• “What makes you feel safe?”
• “When did you start thinking about this issue differently?”

Curiosity invites reflection. Judgment shuts it down.

Balance truth with tenderness.

Facts are important, but empathy is what opens minds. Use both.

You can share:

• Gun violence is the leading cause of death for kids and teens in the United States.
• States with stronger gun laws have lower rates of gun deaths.
• Most gun deaths are suicides, not homicides, and many can be prevented through access to mental health care and safe storage.

Then, connect it back to real life: “When I was in school, we practiced lockdown drills. I remember sitting on the floor wondering if I’d make it home. No one should grow up with that feeling.”

When people understand how this issue touches your life, they begin to see it through a human lens — not just a political one.

Clarify what March For Our Lives stands for.

If your family knows MFOL only from the news or the early marches, help them understand what we actually do today.

“March For Our Lives is a youth-led movement focused on ending gun violence through education, organizing, and advocacy. We work to save lives, but also to redefine what safety means in our communities.”

You can share examples:

• Advocating for policies that prevent shootings and suicides.
• Supporting community-based violence prevention programs.
• Training young people to organize and lead.
• Mobilizing voters around safety, justice, and accountability.

This work is about dignity, not division. It’s about ensuring that everyone, regardless of where they live, can feel safe.

Keep the focus on shared values.

Avoid getting pulled into policy debates. Instead, talk about the principles you both hold dear.

Shared values to name:

• Protecting children and families
• Promoting responsibility and accountability
• Supporting freedom from fear
• Building community trust

“This isn’t about politics for me. It’s about the simple idea that no one should lose a loved one to something we could have prevented.”

Grounding the conversation in values helps people connect emotionally before they engage intellectually.

End with care and continuity.

You don’t need to convince anyone in one talk. What matters is that the door stays open. End in a way that keeps the relationship intact:

• “Thanks for being willing to talk about this. I really appreciate it.”
• “Even if we don’t agree on everything, I’m glad we can be honest with each other.”
• “Would you be open to learning more about some of the programs we support?”

Change happens gradually, through trust and repetition. Each respectful conversation makes it easier for the next one to go deeper.