Featured Firestarter
Meet Ashbey Beasley
Ashbey Beasley, age 47
Connect with her on Instagram
How did you find your spark?
On July 4, 2022, my then 6 year old son and I survived a mass shooting at our hometown Independence Day parade where a gunman killed seven people and wounded 48 others. The experience changed our lives forever and thrust me into gun violence prevention advocacy. Once I learned how many innocent lives can be saved by promoting safe gun ownership through sensible gun laws, I got to work. And when I faced the unwillingness Republican lawmakers to protect us through legislative actions that have overwhelming bipartisan constituent support, I got ignited.
What fires have you started in your life or in the lives of others?
I started this journey as a mom talking to other moms but I knew I had to do more. In the last year and a half, I’ve met with over 250 lawmakers and their teams, including leadership in Congress and the White House Office of Gun Violence to discuss the federal assault weapon ban, safe gun storage, background checks and the repeal of gun industry protections. This year, I used those connections to organize coalition calls with gun violence survivors and members of gun safety leadership in Washington, DC, to foster relationships between lawmakers and stakeholders.
In 2022, my testimony was included in a Congressional house hearing about gun manufacturer’s marketing practices, and in 2023, I worked locally to help pass the Protect Illinois Communities Act, which banned assault weapons by lobbying and testifying before my state senate. I also launched Hometownadvocacy.org, which encourages and teaches people to make hometown meetings with their federal lawmakers to lobby for a federal ban on assault weapons.
In 2024, after being part of a White House briefing on safe gun storage with the Department of Education and the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, I created safestoragesaveslives.com, a website that promotes safe gun storage. The auto populated email is nearly identical to the email I sent my own principal and superintendent. Two weeks later my superintendent sent safe gun storage messaging to every family in the district.
What obstacles have you had to overcome?
Finding my place in this space has not been easy. As a Native American woman, it was immediately clear that Washington, DC, does not look like me. I’ve had to carve out my own space. I’ve definitely kicked in doors and demanded to be included on many occasions. I’m a risk taker, and that has helped immensely.
What new fires are you starting?
I’m always plotting! Right now I’m working hard to make sure that people know that the economic impact of gun violence on individual families is exorbitant and unfair. We don’t talk about the fact that therapy and therapeutic resources to treat PTSD can cost tens of thousands of dollars; many families are going into debt to pay for it. We also aren’t talking about how the majority of gun violence survivors can’t afford the care they need. Getting this messaging out is a big goal of mine right now, so I share my family’s story and I hope that it makes a difference.
WANT TO SEE YOUR STORY FEATURED?
Click here to fill out the form and share what makes you a Firestarter. While I won’t be able to respond to every submission, I’ll be in touch if you are selected to be featured in an upcoming post.🔥🔥🔥
This is incredibly inspiring. Thank you for sharing Ashbey's story. ❤
We live in a world filled with on fire women doing courageous things, and hearing their stories is what the world needs more of. Thank you for sharing Ashbey’s.