I know you like to say we are "dancing on the graves of the victims" when we try to put a face to gun violence, but I have a serious problem thinking that Ryanne would be upset by using her memory to make a point on this issue. I am pretty sure her parents wouldn't mind since they are active in the movement (her mother, Mary Kay, previewed this and suggested some edits to this post).
Ryanne was one of five students who were killed 6 years ago at Northern Illinois University. I know that she was only one of the victims, but she shows how the event impacted her family and her friends. It also effected the entire NIU community.
I'll add that Ryanne was an only child.
But this video tribute from Tom Frey is one that really sticks in my mind. Not only is it a tribute to Ryanne, but it is the memory of someone who knew her. It shows the effect that gun violence has on people:
This is another of the many tributes to Ryanne that I found while trying to find the one by Tom:
This is Ryanne's mother talking about her being active in the Gun violence prevention movement:
A toast to Ryanne Mace, a lovely young woman who was taken from this world far too early. Your memory is contributing to making the world a better place. Who knows how much better the world would be if you were still alive.