Eunice Benavidez. Courtesy Everytown for Gun Safety
Eunice Benavidez was just 3 years old when her family left the Dominican Republic in search of the American dream. Settling in New York City, her father, Alejandro Guerrero, worked tirelessly as a taxi driver to support his wife and three young children. But in 1992, their lives were shattered when Guerrero was tragically shot and killed during an armed robbery at just 42 years old.
“It was hard for my mom becoming a widow and having three young children,” Benavidez shared with PEOPLE. “I was the youngest one. And learning a new language when you’ve been here for less than two years — you’re by yourself, basically.”
Despite the heartbreak, Benavidez’s mother pushed forward, working hard to provide for her family. Eventually, they moved to Michigan, hoping for a fresh start. But tragedy struck again when Benavidez’s older brother, Alejandro Jr., was accidentally shot and killed by a friend just weeks before his 15th birthday in 2001.
“My big brother went to a sleepover, and he never returned home,” Benavidez recalled. The devastating loss opened her eyes to “a different type of gun violence that we didn’t even know was a danger.”
Now a social worker and passionate volunteer with Moms Demand Action, a grassroots group under the non-profit organization Everytown for Gun Safety, Benavidez dedicates her life to preventing gun violence and advocating for secure gun storage. Her journey as an advocate began when she discovered the Everytown Survivor Network and connected with others who had also been impacted by gun violence.
“It’s really important to raise awareness that there are things that gun owners and also non-gun owners can do to keep their kids safe by securing their firearms,” Benavidez emphasized. “And also by normalizing these conversations about gun safety and being able to ask other parents and caregivers, ‘Are there unsecured guns in your home?’”
According to Everytown for Gun Safety, gun violence was the leading cause of death among children in the U.S. in 2022. Earlier this year, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy declared gun violence an “urgent public health crisis.” As a mother of three, Benavidez is acutely aware of the dangers her children face. She actively shares information about secure gun storage with her local school district and other parents, striving to protect the next generation.
August 26 through 30 marks the first annual SMART Week, a nationwide initiative to spread awareness about the importance of secure gun storage. For Benavidez, this cause is deeply personal. “For me, this secure [gun] storage message means a lot if it helps another family not have to experience this heartbreak,” she said. “Because grief is lifelong, the trauma you experience is lifelong.”
In her mission to prevent further tragedies, Benavidez continues to honor the memory of her father and brother by advocating for a safer future for all children.
For more information on safe firearm storage and the most effective ways to protect children from unsecured firearms, visit BeSMARTforkids.org.
