OXFORD, Mich. – An Oakland County Commission charged with addressing gun violence has unveiled a new foundation to prevent gun violence Tuesday, June 11. The All of Us Foundation came out of a 20+ person Commission formed by Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald.
McDonald said in the wake of the Oxford High School shooting, she wanted to learn everything she could about gun violence. She now wants to share that information with everyone else. It’s not about gun reform or other legislation, it’s about giving people the informational tools they need to make their communities safer.
“I want to focus on a lot more than just what happens when someone has a gun in their hand and the good news is there’s a lot that we can do,” McDonald said. “I made a decision some time ago that there were moments when sharing what happened was absolutely necessary and this is one of those moments.”
At the unveiling, voices were heard from the people who gun violence has touched. People like Molly Darnell, who came face to face with the Oxford High School shooter.
“I watched as he raised his gun to me, my reaction to move to the right and the door between us,” Darnell said. “It saved my life”
In 2020, a year before the Oxford High School shooting, gun-related injuries surpassed car accidents as the leading cause of death for children. It’s not just school shootings -- suicide and everyday gun violence account for the majority of gun-related deaths.
“At the age of 17 I lost my brother to gun violence in the city of Pontiac, nearby my home” said Aaliyah Sharp, Executive Director, Identify Your Dream
Sharp created Identify Your Dream out of her family’s tragedy. They offer support to young people impacted by violence.
More information can be found on All Of Us’ official website here.