Boston Mother who lost son to gun violence hosts event in Chattanooga

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – A Boston mother who has been outspoken about gun violence is here in Chattanooga sharing her story and how you can help with the growing problem, gun violence.

Ruth Rollins says, “Never would I think that a tragedy would hit my door. In 2007, my son Warren Daniel Harrison at the age of 21 was shot in the head and left for dead.

From “grief to growth” was the message Friday afternoon at the Avondale Recreation Center where Ruth Rollins of Boston visited Chattanooga. Rollins lost a son to gun violence and says through her grief she knew she had to be apart of the solution.

Through her work with LIPSTICK and WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER, she speaks to young women about the importance of not hiding, holding or storing guns whether it’s for love, money or through manipulation.

Rollins led a demonstration and says while getting the shooter off the street is good, getting to the SOURCE, gun dealers, would be even better. She was joined by a group of city officials to share this message as well.

Andy Berke says, “We know that even if we work hard and we see overall gun violence go down, that we still have a lot of problems and that the numbers that we see are unacceptable even if they are going down.”

Rollins says through Lipstick (Ladies Involved In Putting A Stop To Inner-City Killing) and We Are Better Together, they are getting more and more people to take the pledge that they will ask this question “Where did the gun come from?” to keep illegal guns off the streets.

Rollins hopes to also change the way the world looks at the victims of gun violence as well.

Rollins says, “Because of the lifestyle my son lived, I felt like I was revictimized. There was no bad victim, there was no good victim, it was like all our babies mattered.”

Ruth Rollins with @projectlipstick is in town sharing her story! She lost a son to gun violence. pic.twitter.com/wJ9T1fz0Q6

— Amber Worthy (@AWorthyNews) February 2, 2018