Georgia congresswoman shares letter to son on the anniversary of his death

Rep. Lucy McBath (D-Ga.) shared a letter to her late son on Saturday, on the seventh anniversary of his death. The young man died during an outbreak of gun violence. 

“This is always the hardest day of the year for me. So this year, I want to share a letter I wrote to my son,” she tweeted. 

McBath’s son Jordan Davis, then 17, was fatally shot at a gas station in 2012 after an argument over loud music. 

“You and your friends were at a gas station, putting gas into your car. Without warning, a man confronted you and opened fire. He shot 10 rounds into the car, and sped away,” McBath wrote in a series of tweets addressed to Davis.”I didn’t get to hug and kiss you goodbye. You were 17 years old. My heart is still broken.”

She added that immediately following his death, she did not know how to handle her grief. 

“Then, I knew what I had to do. I knew what WE had to do. We would fight to make sure no other families would have to suffer this pain,” McBath wrote. “Jordan, I want you to know I am working to carry out your legacy. We thought you would one day fight for change — and now, together, we are carrying out that vision.”

“Seven years later, you still inspire me every single day. I miss you. I love you so much,” she concluded. 

McBath has been a vocal advocate for gun law reform including requiring universal background checks following her son’s death. She was newly elected in 2018, flipping a previously Republican-held seat.

Today marks seven years after my son, Jordan, was shot for playing his music.

This is always the hardest day of the year for me. So this year, I want to share a letter I wrote to my son.

Dear Jordan:

[1/x] pic.twitter.com/wsxbNQ0vNV

— Lucy McBath (@lucymcbath) November 23, 2019 

You and your friends were at a gas station, putting gas into your car.

Without warning, a man confronted you and opened fire. He shot 10 rounds into the car, and sped away.

I didn’t get to hug and kiss you goodbye. You were 17 years old. My heart is still broken.

[3/x] pic.twitter.com/lR2dIueLJ7

— Lucy McBath (@lucymcbath) November 23, 2019

In the aftermath of your death, I did not know how to deal with my grief.

I prayed for guidance to find a new path forward.

Then, I knew what I had to do. I knew what WE had to do.

We would fight to make sure no other families would have to suffer this pain.

[4/x] pic.twitter.com/OTdIRWL1el

— Lucy McBath (@lucymcbath) November 23, 2019

Jordan, I want you to know I am working to carry out your legacy.

We thought you would one day fight for change — and now, together, we are carrying out that vision.

Seven years later, you still inspire me every single day. I miss you. I love you so much.

– Mom pic.twitter.com/nTjR85XzPg

— Lucy McBath (@lucymcbath) November 23, 2019

Sens. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) two lawmakers who are running for president, responded to McBath’s tweet thread offering sympathy and calling for change. 

“While I can’t begin to imagine your pain, Jordan’s legacy lives on through your fight for safer communities,” Harris wrote.

“We must call out the fact that Black Americans have borne the brunt of the gun violence tragedy in our country. I promise to fight my heart out—for justice for Jordan, and to end this epidemic,” wrote Warren.